A ‘monumental’ opportunity for area businesses

Rich Palzewic

Staff

October 3, 2023

NORTHEAST WISCONSIN – Monumental – that is how Bernatello’s Foods President Chad Schultz described the company’s recent partnership with the Green Bay Packers.

“The legacy the Packers have built, not only in this state but across the country and the world, is second to none – to be one of their partners is extremely exciting,” he said.

The Kaukauna-based frozen pizza manufacturer (1601 Hyland Ave.) recently announced one of its pizzas has been named the official Pizza of the Green Bay Packers.

Bernatello’s Brew Pub Lotzza Motzza Pizza will be a new gameday option at Lambeau Field concession stands this season.

More on the partnership
Aaron Popkey, director of public affairs for the Packers, said the partnership with Bernatello’s – as is the partnerships with several other businesses – is a win-win for all involved.

“We are continually evaluating our food/beverage options,” he said. “With Wisconsin being the frozen pizza capital, we were excited to kick off a partnership with a local, Kaukauna-based company – one that is family-owned and proudly assembled by residents, right here in Northeast Wisconsin.”

Popkey said the local connection provided flexibility to the team and Delaware North Sportservice – the hospitality and food service provider for the Packers and Lambeau Field.

Kaukauna-based Bernatello’s Foods, the manufacturer of Lotzza Motzza and other frozen pizzas, is located at 1601 Hyland Ave. Submitted Photo

“It allows us to create custom products and flavors together that will be served both in the stadium and others that will be available to consumers at retail,” he said.

Popkey said these partnerships have several key benefits for all parties beyond simply being an official partner of the Green Bay Packers.

In terms of Bernatello’s – he said it is about more than just the opportunity to serve Brew Pub Lotzza Motzza Pizza at Lambeau Field.

“Fans will also see several unique benefits,” he said. “Fans will see numerous contests that feature a Monday Night pizza party with friends at Lambeau Field. Pre-game, the Brew Pub Kickoff Kid will retrieve the kicking tee at the start of each home game. There will also be a sampling of various Brew Pub Pizza styles at several games during the season.”

In addition to Brew Pub, Bernatello’s, which was established in 1982, also makes Bellatoria, Orv’s, Roma and Pizza Corner pizzas.

Popkey said fans will hear about new and exciting fan contests and promotions across both the Packers digital and social networks, as well as via the Packers Radio Network.

“Additionally, Brew Pub is the presenting sponsor to the player 1:1 interview each week on Total Packers,” he said. “Packers fans will see Packers marks at their local grocer’s freezer and on numerous Brew Pub trucks traveling across Wisconsin.”

As for the terms and length of the partnership, Popkey said – “it’s a multi-year partnership.”

“It’s a partnership that will see Brew Pub Lotzza Motzza Pizza proudly served at Lambeau Field for the foreseeable future,” he said.

From Bernatello’s side, Matt Selvig, Bernatello’s advertising and promotions manager, said it’s about name recognition and getting the company’s name out there.

“When we were allowed to partner with the Packers, we jumped on it,” he said. “It will help elevate us as a company, but hopefully, it will also allow fans to have a better in-game experience with our pizzas there. I think the partnership will solidify Bernatello’s as a big player in the frozen pizza market.”

On a deeper level, Selvig said there are two things in Wisconsin everybody loves – “the Green Bay Packers and cheese.”

“We’ve got plenty of cheese on our pizzas, and the Packers are rooted in tradition and success,” he said. “The main factor in what’s so great about the partnership – from Bernatello’s side of things – is we simply get to sell our pizzas at Lambeau Field. More people will be able to try it on game day and experience it. Another big part of it is the familiarity with the Packers and the big ‘G.’ We’ve got that on a bunch of our trucks making their way around the state.”

Matt Selvig, Bernatello’s advertising and promotions manager, said the pizza partnership with the Packers will benefit both parties. Submitted Photo

An official partner of the Packers
Popkey said with official partnerships, “the Packers are fortunate to have had a number of wonderful companies to work with over the years.” 

“The majority of these are Wisconsin-based organizations,” he said. “The Packers seek out shared values with potential partners who are well connected to their communities and leaders in their industries.”

Popkey said it’s a win-win for both sides.

“With our partners, we combine the strengths of each other’s brands for the benefit of our fans and customers,” he said.

Pizza, pizza, get your pizza!
The specific Brew Pub Lotzza Motzza Pizza available at Lambeau Field – the Tailgater Specialty – comes complete with bacon, brats, caramelized onions and mustard cheese sauce.

For now, Zac Ladubec, executive chef with Delaware North, said the Tailgater will only be available at Lambeau Field and not sold in other markets.

“As a lifetime Wisconsinite and frozen pizza fan, I hope to see it in stores at some point,” he said.

Ladubec said conversations with Bernatello’s about a Lambeau-Field-specific pizza began during the summer.

“I worked with Rob DeGroot (from Bernatello’s) in research and development,” he said. “We started with an ideation meeting, and I told him what my idea was. From there, we probably sampled eight to 10 different varieties – made small changes each time until we landed on our finished ‘Tailgater Specialty Pizza.’”

Ladubec said in his mind, there’s one specific reason the pizza tastes so good.

“I believe it’s the layering of flavors – we tried to hit that perfect balance,” he said. “The tangy mustard cheese sauce, the way the bacon crisps up, the perfect amount of brat coins and caramelized onions make for an overall great tasting pizza.”

Along with being named the official pizza of the Packers, Selvig said the Brew Pub Pizza line has introduced four unique Packer-themed pizzas, including:

The Kicker (jalapeno popper)Stadium Steak (Philly cheese steak)BBQ Blitz (smoked chicken with BBQ sauce)Pick Six (six meat)
“Each of these new pizzas can be purchased at grocery stores throughout the State of Wisconsin,” he said. “Outside Wisconsin, we are marketing those same pizzas as the MVPs – the Most Valuable Pizzas. It’s got a similar logo and similar branding, but it’s a different color and won’t be Packers-themed.”

Selvig said the Lotzza Motzza Pizza brand is also familiar to fans of other NFL teams outside of Wisconsin.

“We wanted to share those varieties and allow customers to enjoy those outside of Wisconsin, too,” he said. “A Packers pizza in Minnesota might not go over too well. Detroit, Kansas City, Minnesota, Chicago – we’ve already got our pizzas there. When fans (of those teams) come to Lambeau Field, our hope and desire is that they see (the pizza) and say, ‘Oh yeah, I got that pizza at the grocery store in Kansas City.’”

For more information on Bernatello’s Foods, visit Bernatellos.com.