Galena Balloon Festival: How the WPPO Team Produced 138 Pizzas in 2.5 Hours

Family, Friends & Food Takes Flight

The Galena Balloon Festival was one for the record books for the WPPO team.

With beautiful weather, a steady crowd, and hot air balloons filling the sky, we had the opportunity to put our catering system to the test. By the end of the evening, we had produced 140 pizzas, sold 138, traded 2, sold 132 bottles of water, and completely sold out.

Most importantly, we proved once again that people will wait for great wood-fired pizza.

The Team

Every successful event starts with a great crew.

For this event, our team consisted of:

• Dan Johnson – Dough Stretching
• Speedy – Oven Operations
• Lynnette – Toppings
• Jessie – Front Counter & Customer Service

Everyone knew their role, and everyone stayed in their lane. That allowed us to maintain a steady flow from order taking to pizza delivery.

Equipment Used

For this event we used our WPPO Catering Truck equipped with a Karma 55 oven.

The Karma 55 provided excellent recovery throughout the event. While deck temperatures occasionally dropped from 700°F to around 560°F during peak production, the oven recovered quickly and continued producing quality pizzas.

Most pizzas were cooked one to three at a time depending on demand and deck conditions.

Production Numbers

Event Statistics

• 140 pizzas produced
• 138 pizzas sold
• 2 pizzas traded/bartered
• 132 bottles of water sold
• 2.5 hours of active cooking
• Complete sellout

For a small four-person crew, these numbers demonstrate what is possible when systems and preparation come together.

What We Learned

Stretching Was the Bottleneck

When we reviewed the event afterward, one thing became clear.

Stretching dough was our slowest station.

The topping station kept up.
The oven kept up.
The front counter kept up.

Stretching was the area that limited production.

As demand continues to grow, we'll be evaluating additional training, prep methods, and possibly mechanical stretching options for larger events.

Customers Will Wait for Quality

One of the biggest takeaways from the evening was customer patience.

At times, wait times approached an hour.

Yet people stayed.

Why?

Because they could see the pizzas being stretched, topped, and cooked in a real wood-fired oven. The experience became part of the event.

Wood-fired pizza isn't fast food. It's an experience.

Why Systems Matter

A lot of people see a pizza truck and think it's simply making pizzas.

In reality, successful catering is all about systems.

The dough must be prepared correctly.
The crew must know their roles.
The oven must be managed properly.
Communication must remain clear.

When those systems are working together, a small team can produce incredible results.

Family, Friends & Food

At WPPO, we've always believed pizza is more than food.

It's a reason for people to gather.

The Galena Balloon Festival was another reminder of what happens when great weather, great people, and great pizza come together.

We want to thank everyone who stopped by, waited in line, shared a conversation, and supported our small business.

We also want to thank Speedy, Lynnette, and Jessie for helping deliver one of the best catering performances we've had to date.

Until the next event, we'll keep doing what we love:

Family. Friends. Food.

— Dan Johnson & The WPPO Team