Schwan's Company
Schwan's Company is a U.S.-origin frozen-food manufacturer and food-service supplier known for pizza, frozen desserts, prepared foods, and the Red Baron, Freschetta, Tony's, Mrs. Smith's, Edwards, and Pagoda brands.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Schwan's Company is a U.S.-origin food manufacturer and marketer specializing in frozen foods for retail grocery and food-service customers. Its roots date to 1952, when Marvin Schwan began delivering his family's homemade ice cream from a truck to rural customers in western Minnesota. The business initially combined home delivery with dairy and frozen-food production, then expanded across the American Midwest and broadened its portfolio beyond ice cream. During the 1950s and 1960s, Schwan's added juice concentrates and frozen fish products. In the following decades, pizza became one of its most important categories. The company supplied pizza to schools, developed the Red Baron brand for grocery retailers, and later built a broader frozen-pizza portfolio through acquisitions and new product development. It also entered Asian foods, frozen desserts, and other prepared-food categories. Brands associated with the company include Red Baron Pizza, Freschetta Pizza, Tony's Frozen Pizza, Mrs. Smith's Pies, Edwards Frozen Pies, and Pagoda Egg Rolls. Schwan's growth was supported by acquisitions and international expansion. It acquired or developed businesses connected with pizza, desserts, Asian foods, and frozen products, opened a manufacturing plant in England in 1989, and established a Canadian operation in 1990. The Canadian business ended operations in 1999. In the United States, the company continued to serve both grocery retailers and institutional and commercial food-service customers, while also operating manufacturing and supply-chain capabilities for its own brands and for strategic partners. The company experienced a major leadership transition after founder Marvin Schwan died in 1993. His brother Alfred Schwan, previously associated with manufacturing, became president. A serious food-safety crisis followed in 1994, when an outbreak of salmonella infections in southern Minnesota was statistically linked to Schwan's ice cream. The company halted production and sales of its ice cream and conducted a public warning campaign. Investigators attributed the contamination to a contractor's tanker truck that had not been adequately cleaned after transporting raw, unpasteurized eggs. Schwan's later corporate identity changed as its business developed. The corporation changed its name from Schwan's Sales Enterprises to The Schwan Food Company in 2003. In February 2019, CJ CheilJedang of South Korea completed the purchase of 80% of the privately held company's stock. This ended the Schwan family's controlling ownership of the principal food company, although the family retained full ownership of the home-delivery operation. Schwan's Company consequently became a subsidiary of CJ CheilJedang while continuing to operate its consumer-brand, food-service, manufacturing, and partner-production activities. The former home-delivery business was separated from the main company and rebranded as Yelloh in 2022. It remained independently owned and operated by members of the Schwan family through Cygnus Home Service, LLC, rather than becoming part of CJ CheilJedang's Schwan's Company. Yelloh announced in September 2024 that it would cease operations on November 8, 2024, citing insurmountable business challenges. That closure concerned the independent home-delivery successor, not the continuing Schwan's Company frozen-food business.
History
Schwan's Company developed from a family food business in Minnesota into a major frozen-food manufacturer and brand portfolio. In 1952, Marvin Schwan began delivering homemade ice cream made by his family to rural customers in western Minnesota. The original operation, associated with Schwan's Dairy and Dairy Lunch, used direct delivery to reach communities that were not well served by conventional retail distribution. The company expanded through the Midwest and added businesses such as Holiday Ice Cream Company and Russell Dairy. The portfolio broadened during the late 1950s and 1960s. Juice concentrates were added in 1957, and frozen fish products followed in 1962. In the 1970s, Schwan's entered school pizza and launched Red Baron as a retail grocery pizza brand. The Red Baron name was supported by the Red Baron Squadron flight team, which served as a promotional vehicle for the brand. During the 1980s, the company added further capabilities and brands, including businesses connected with pizza and Asian foods. It opened a plant in Leyland, England, in 1989 and entered Canada in 1990 through an ice cream plant in Manitoba and delivery routes in Saskatchewan and Alberta. The Canadian operation ceased in December 1999. The 1990s brought both brand expansion and a major food-safety crisis. Schwan's introduced Freschetta pizza in 1996 and acquired a frozen-food producer in France. In 1993, Marvin Schwan died of a heart attack at age 64, and Alfred Schwan, his older brother and the company's former head of manufacturing, became president. In October 1994, Minnesota health officials notified the company of a salmonella outbreak affecting 67 people in southern Minnesota. Production and sales of Schwan's ice cream were stopped, and the company publicly warned consumers not to eat its ice cream products. The investigation identified a contractor's tanker as the contamination source; the truck had not been properly washed after carrying raw, unpasteurized eggs. Schwan's continued its international and category expansion near the end of the decade. It acquired La Roue du Pays d'Auge in France in 1996 and opened a pizza plant in Osterweddingen, Germany, in 1998. In 2001, it purchased the Edwards dessert business from Ripplewood Holdings, and in 2003 it acquired Mrs. Smith's from Flowers Foods. The corporate name changed in 2003 from Schwan's Sales Enterprises to The Schwan Food Company, reflecting the company's evolution from a route-delivery business into a broader branded-food enterprise. The company subsequently operated through several related business areas. Schwan's Consumer Brands focused on frozen foods sold through grocery channels, primarily in the Western Hemisphere. Schwan's Food Service supplied frozen products to food-service customers. SFC Global Supply Chain coordinated production and product development, while Schwan's Strategic Partner Solutions worked with other companies on manufacturing and packaging. The business also continued to promote its brands through partnerships, including a 2010 collaboration with the television series Top Chef. Ownership changed decisively in 2019. CJ CheilJedang, a South Korean food company, purchased 80% of Schwan's privately held stock in a transaction completed in February. The main Schwan's food business became a CJ CheilJedang subsidiary, while the Schwan family retained complete ownership of Schwan's Home Delivery Service. That home-delivery operation traced its history to Marvin Schwan's original 1952 routes and continued selling frozen food from delivery trucks in 13 states. In March 2022, Schwan's Home Delivery announced the Yelloh rebrand. By October 2023, it was being operated by Cygnus Home Service, LLC, an independent company owned by Schwan family members. Yelloh announced in September 2024 that it would close on November 8, 2024, citing insurmountable business challenges. The closure marked the end of the historic home-delivery activity but did not eliminate Schwan's Company, which continued as the CJ-owned manufacturer, marketer, distributor, and food-service supplier.
- 2024
Yelloh announces closure
[1]Yelloh announces that its independent home-delivery operations will end on November 8, 2024.
- 2022
Home-delivery business rebrands as Yelloh
[1]Schwan's Home Delivery adopts the Yelloh name while remaining separate from the CJ-owned Schwan's Company.
- 2019
CJ CheilJedang acquires majority stake
[1]CJ CheilJedang completes the acquisition of 80% of Schwan's privately held stock, making the principal food company a subsidiary.
- 2010
Top Chef collaboration
[1]Schwan's partners with the television series Top Chef to serve dishes associated with chefs featured on the program.
- 2003
Mrs. Smith's acquired and corporate name changed
[1]The company acquires Mrs. Smith's from Flowers Foods and changes its corporate name from Schwan's Sales Enterprises to The Schwan Food Company.
- 2001
Edwards acquired
[1]Schwan's acquires the Edwards dessert company from Ripplewood Holdings.
- 1998
German pizza plant opens
[1]The company opens a pizza manufacturing plant in Osterweddingen, Germany.
- 1996
Freschetta introduced
[1]Schwan's introduces Freschetta pizza and acquires a frozen-food producer in France.
- 1994
Salmonella crisis
[1]The company halts ice-cream production and sales after a salmonella outbreak is linked statistically to its products.
- 1993
Marvin Schwan dies
[1]Founder Marvin Schwan dies, and his brother Alfred Schwan becomes president.
Products and positioning
A diversified frozen-food platform combining widely distributed consumer brands, food-service supply, manufacturing, product development, and strategic-partner production. Its portfolio is particularly associated with convenient frozen pizza and desserts.
Frozen pizza
Red Baron Pizza
Red Baron is one of Schwan's best-known retail frozen-pizza brands. It emerged from the company's expansion into pizza during the 1970s, when Schwan's also sold pizza to schools. The brand was supported by the Red Baron Squadron flight team as a promotional activity and became a major grocery offering within the company's consumer-brands portfolio.
Frozen pizza · 1996
Freschetta Pizza
Freschetta is a frozen-pizza line introduced by Schwan's in 1996. It expanded the company's presence in retail pizza beyond Red Baron and became part of the consumer-brand portfolio marketed through grocery channels.
Frozen pizza
Tony's Frozen Pizza
Tony's is a Schwan's frozen-pizza brand sold through retail and associated with the company's long-running focus on convenient prepared foods. It forms part of the company's broader pizza portfolio alongside Red Baron and Freschetta.
Frozen desserts
Mrs. Smith's Pies
Mrs. Smith's is a frozen-pie and dessert brand acquired by Schwan's from Flowers Foods in 2003. Its addition strengthened Schwan's position in frozen desserts and complemented the company's existing food portfolio.
Frozen desserts
Edwards Frozen Pies
Edwards is a frozen-dessert brand acquired by Schwan's in 2001 from Ripplewood Holdings. The brand expanded the company's dessert business and remains associated with frozen pies and related dessert products.
Frozen prepared foods
Pagoda Egg Rolls
Pagoda is a frozen prepared-food brand centered on egg rolls and Asian-inspired products. It reflects Schwan's expansion into Asian foods during the company's acquisition-led growth in the late twentieth century.
Controversies
1994
Salmonella contamination associated with Schwan's ice cream
Minnesota health authorities reported 67 salmonella enteritis cases in southern Minnesota and found a strong statistical link to Schwan's ice cream. Schwan's stopped production and sales and warned consumers not to eat its ice cream. Investigators traced the contamination to a contractor's tanker truck that had been inadequately cleaned after transporting raw, unpasteurized eggs.
Marketing campaigns
- 2010Top Chef partnership
United States
Schwan's collaborated with the Bravo television series Top Chef and served dishes associated with chefs featured on the program.
Outcome. The partnership connected Schwan's food offerings with a nationally visible culinary-entertainment property.
- 1970Red Baron Squadron
United States
Schwan's formed the Red Baron Squadron flight team to promote the Red Baron pizza brand and connect the product with aviation-themed imagery.
Outcome. The squadron served as a promotional platform for Red Baron during the brand's expansion into grocery retail.
Brand decisions
2022
Rebranding of Schwan's Home Delivery as YellohStrategyBackground
The family-owned home-delivery business was separate from the CJ-owned Schwan's Company but retained the historic route-delivery heritage.
Action taken
The home-delivery operation changed its name to Yelloh, referencing the color of its trucks.
Aftermath
Yelloh continued independently before announcing the closure of its operations in 2024.
2019
Sale of majority ownership to CJ CheilJedangM&ABackground
Schwan's was a privately held, family-controlled frozen-food company seeking a new ownership structure.
Action taken
CJ CheilJedang acquired 80% of the company's stock, while the Schwan family retained ownership of the separate home-delivery operation.
Aftermath
Schwan's Company became a subsidiary of CJ CheilJedang, while the home-delivery business remained independent and later adopted the Yelloh name.
1994
Suspend ice-cream production and sales during salmonella investigationOtherBackground
Health authorities identified a strong statistical relationship between a salmonella outbreak and Schwan's ice cream products.
Action taken
Schwan's halted production and sales of its ice cream and launched a public-awareness effort advising consumers not to eat the products.
Aftermath
The investigation attributed the contamination to an improperly cleaned contractor tanker that had previously carried raw, unpasteurized eggs.
Sources1 sources
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