Finding Your Niche Using Creativity, Absurdity and Street Smarts
(Room S220)
19 Mar 18
12:30 PM
-
1:30 PM
John Gutekanst opened Avalanche Pizza in 2000 in the college town of Athens, Ohio, and has built a business known for thinking outside the box. When he says “We’ll try anything,” he can back it up with data: Avalanche offers more than 60 toppings, 35 specialty pizzas and seven crusts, plus salads, wings, specialty breads and seasonal items. His energetic experimentation produces at times zany pizzas and comical promotions, but Gutekanst uses the best ingredients and watches the bottom line — and the customers keep coming. Hear his story of outsmarting, outmaneuvering and outperforming the chains during this opening session of our Monday programming for new operators and early-arriving attendees.