Schwan’s Co., Bloomington, Minn., acquired Better Baked Foods, North East, Pa., and Drayton Foods, Fargo, N.D., from parent company NE Foods Inc.
The acquisition represents the second in as many months for Schwan’s, as it works to increase its capabilities in the U.S. pizza market. In June, Schwan’s acquired MaMa Rosa’s Pizza, Sidney, Ohio.
“We are focused on adding to our capabilities and growing our share of the U.S. pizza market. We are extremely happy to add Better Baked Foods and Drayton Foods to our family of businesses, as both are highly regarded for providing quality foods to their retail, foodservice and home delivery customers nationwide,” says Dimitrios Smyrnios, chief executive officer of Schwan’s. “The U.S. consumer’s passion for pizza continues to evolve and grow in exciting ways. The addition of Better Baked, Drayton and MaMa Rosa’s to Schwan’s will deepen our collaborations with strategic foodservice and retail customers on innovating and growing the pizza category and meeting consumer demand.”
Better Baked Foods makes pizza, French bread pizza and sandwich items for private label customers and food service venues, and offers Better Baked Classics, Daybreak Classics, Papa Presto, Zap-A-Snack and Odyssey brands to retail stores. The business, which includes Better Baked Foods of Erie, LLC, operates production facilities in North East, Erie, Pa.; and Westfield, N.Y.
Drayton Foods makes pizza crusts, dough balls, breadsticks and dinner rolls under the Two Sicily’s brand.