Schwan's establishes new private brand and contract packing business

Marshall, Minn.-based Schwan’s Co. has announced the creation of Schwan’s Strategic Partner Solutions, a new business unit focused on growing the company’s private brand and contract packing businesses with select retailers and food manufacturers. Schwan’s CEO Dimitrios Smyrnios said that this business unit aligns the company with the increasing strategic importance of private brand food lines and products in the marketplace.

“Increasingly, we know that today’s consumers see tremendous value in both branded and high-quality private label products when making their grocery purchases,” Smyrnios said in a press release. “We believe our dynamic manufacturing capabilities, iconic brands, high-quality foods and deep consumer insights position us well to help our customers grow their branded and private label businesses as they work to meet the evolving needs of consumers.”

Joe Pacinelli, who joined Schwan’s through this past summer’s acquisition of North East, Pa.-based Better Baked Foods, has been appointed president of Schwan’s Strategic Partner Solutions. He will report to Smyrnios and serve as a member of Schwan’s executive leadership team.

Pacinelli is an experienced, well-known leader within the food industry, Smyrnios said. He was with Better Baked Foods for 19 years and had served as its president since 2005. In addition, Pacinelli has served as a board member with the American Frozen Food Institute for 12 years.

“We are fortunate to have someone with Joe’s experience, industry relationships and business acumen join our company and take on this new opportunity to work strategically with our customers,” Smyrnios stated.

One important category for the new business unit will be pizza. This summer, Schwan’s announced several acquisitions that are helping the company expand its presence in the pizza market. The acquisitions included Better Baked Foods, Fargo, N.D.-based Drayton Foods and Sidney, Ohio-based MaMa Rosa’s Pizza.

Schwan’s Co. is a privately held business that manufactures foods for the retail grocery and foodservice channels. Its national brands include Red Baron, Tony’s and Freschetta pizza, Mrs. Smith’s and Edwards desserts, Pagoda snacks and Schwan’s fine frozen foods.