Elise Wetzel's guest appearances

Elise Wetzel

Northwestern Intersections

QSR Uncut

Kathy Khang

John MacFarlane

Fred Minnick

Nicole Gibbons

Wiz Khalifa

Rebecca Miller

Scott Shay

Jordan Gross

Kim Malek

Erica Keswin

Gordon Segal

Gary Beasley

Joe Koss

Ben Parr

Lisa Smith

OwlTail

In 2011, Elise Wetzel and her husband Rick Wetzel, a co-founder of Wetzel’s Pretzel’s, were in line at Chipotle during rush hour to grab a quick lunch when they were actually hoping to grab pizza instead. That’s when a light bulb went off in her head with the idea that a pizza restaurant with an assembly line could work. She grabbed a napkin and sketched out her ideas with Rick, which led to the beginning of one of the fastest-growing franchise pizza restaurants in the world, Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza. Elise sheds light on her experience as a successful entrepreneur and brand marketer, having learned her skills in consumer behavior during her time at Northwestern. She shares the importance of establishing team inclusivity, adaptability, and brand awareness. In light of celebrating Women’s History Month, Northwestern Intersections is featuring 4 female Northwestern trailblazers to honor those who have shaped and inspired the future of our community.

In 2011, Elise Wetzel and her husband Rick Wetzel, a co-founder of Wetzel’s Pretzel’s, were in line at Chipotle during rush hour to grab a quick lunch when they were actually hoping to grab pizza instead. That’s when a light bulb went off in her head with the idea that a pizza restaurant with an assembly line could work. She grabbed a napkin and sketched out her ideas with Rick, which led to the beginning of one of the fastest-growing franchise pizza restaurants in the world, Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza. Elise sheds light on her experience as a successful entrepreneur and brand marketer, having learned her skills in consumer behavior during her time at Northwestern. She shares the importance of establishing team inclusivity, adaptability, and brand awareness. In light of celebrating Women’s History Month, Northwestern Intersections is featuring 4 female Northwestern trailblazers to honor those who have shaped and inspired the future of our community.

Bringing Ideas to Life with the Co-founder of Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza, Elise Wetzel ’87, ’92 MBA

Blaze Pizza started as a business plan scribbled on a Chipotle napkin back in 2011. At the time, Rick and Elise Wetzel were founders of the successful snack brand Wetzel's Pretzels, but they recognized an opportunity in the booming fast-casual model to turn pizza into a more personalized, lunch-driven category. Eight years later, Blaze Pizza has more than 300 locations and has been called the fastest-growing restaurant chain ever. In this conversation with QSR magazine editor Sam Oches, the Wetzels explain the genesis of Blaze Pizza, the ongoing competition among fast-casual pizza brands, and how they are positioning the company for future success. 

Blaze Pizza started as a business plan scribbled on a Chipotle napkin back in 2011. At the time, Rick and Elise Wetzel were founders of the successful snack brand Wetzel's Pretzels, but they recognized an opportunity in the booming fast-casual model to turn pizza into a more personalized, lunch-driven category. Eight years later, Blaze Pizza has more than 300 locations and has been called the fastest-growing restaurant chain ever.  In this conversation with QSR magazine editor Sam Oches, the Wetzels explain the genesis of Blaze Pizza, the ongoing competition among fast-casual pizza brands, and how they are positioning the company for future success.

1 - Blaze Pizza's Rick & Elise Wetzel