MARSHALL, Minn. — Schwan’s Co. has established a new private label and contract packing business unit. Schwan’s Strategic Partner Solutions will be led by Joe Pacinelli, who joined the company this year with the acquisition of Better Baked Foods.

Dimitrios Smyrnios, CEO of Schwan's

“Increasingly, we know that today’s consumers see tremendous value in both branded and high-quality private label products when making their grocery purchases,” said Dimitrios Smyrnios, CEO of Schwan’s Co. “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.”

Founded in 1952, Schwan’s Co. manufactures and markets products through home delivery, retail grocery and food service channels under brand names including Red Baron, Tony’s and Freschetta pizza, Mrs. Smith’s and Edwards desserts, Pagoda snacks and Schwan’s frozen foods. Schwan’s private label and co-packing capabilities include ice cream, pies, snacks and appetizers, pizza, beverages, sauces and aluminum packaging.

Pizza in particular is an important category for the new business unit. Earlier this year, Schawn’s Co. expanded its presence in the pizza market with the acquisitions of MaMa Rosa’s Pizza and NE Food Inc.’s wholly owned subsidiaries of Better Baked Foods and Drayton Foods.

“Our goal is to lead in every category in which we compete,” Smyrnios said. “In creating a new private label and co-packing business unit, we are achieving two objectives. We are increasing our strategic focus on our private label business, a rapidly growing and vitally important market segment for our customers. And we are enabling other Schwan’s business units to intensify their focus on growing our own strong retail brands.”

Pacinelli, who has been named president of Schwan’s Strategic Partner Solutions, was president of Better Baked Foods since 2005 and had been with the company for 19 years. He also has served as a board member with the American Frozen Food Institute for 12 years. In his new role, he will report to Smyrnios as a member of Schwan’s executive leadership team.

“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 said. “He will have the full support of a cross-functional Schwan’s team whose members have a diverse set of skills and experiences in the food industry. All of us will be focused on delivering excellent quality products and services to our business partners across several different categories.”