Celeste is a brand of frozen pizza owned by Conagra Brands.[1] It is widely referred to by its former name Mama Celeste. The brand's slogan is Abbondanza, which means "Abundance" in Italian.[2]
Background
The product was named after Celeste (née Luise) Lizio (1908–1988), who carried the nickname "Mama Celeste". She was born in San Angelo, Italy, and came to the United States from Italy with her husband, Anthony, in the 1920s. They settled on Chicago's West Side, where they opened their first restaurant in 1937. In 1962, the Lizios closed the restaurant and began selling pizzas to other restaurants.[2][3][4] The Quaker Oats Company acquired the product in 1969.[2][3][4][5]
See also
External links
References
- Celeste Pizza – Home Conagra Brands Inc., 2025^
- David Freed. Celeste Lizio; Italian Cook Was Queen of Frozen Pizza Los Angeles Times, December 19, 1988, retrieved April 7, 2025^
- Mama Celeste dead at 80 UPI, December 18, 1988, retrieved 5 April 2025