Schwan Food Company
Encyclopedia
The Schwan Food Company is a multibillion-dollar, privately owned company with 17,000 employees in the United States. Based in Marshall, Minnesota
, the company sells frozen food
s from home-delivery trucks, in grocery-store freezers, by mail and to the food service industry. The company produces, markets, and distributes products developed under brands such as Schwan's, Red Baron, Freschetta, Tony's, Mrs. Smith's, Edwards, Pagoda Express and many others.
Schwan's Home Service, the company's flagship
business unit, is the largest direct-to-home food delivery provider in the United States. Home Service markets and distributes more than 400 products under the Schwan's and LiveSmart brands. The business has nearly 500 sales-and-distribution centers located throughout the United States with 5,700 delivery vehicles.
Schwan's Consumer Brands markets frozen food products in grocery stores primarily in the Western Hemisphere. Schwan's Food Service markets and distributes frozen-food products to the food service industry. Schwan's Global Supply Chain is a manufacturing cooperative
that coordinates the company's production processes and helps develop new products.
and made a number of acquisitions, including the Holiday Ice Cream Company and Russell Dairy. In 1957, the product line was expanded to include juice concentrates
, and in 1962 Schwan's began selling frozen fish products.
During the 1970s, the company began selling pizza to schools, launched the Red Baron pizza brand for sale in grocery stores, and formed the Red Baron Squadron flight team to promote the brand. During the 1980s, Schwan's made further acquisitions, including pizza manufacturer Sabatasso Foods and Asian-foods manufacturer Minh Food Corporation. Schwan's opened a plant in Leyland
, Preston, England
in 1989. In 1993, founder Marvin Schwan died of a heart attack at the age of 64. Marvin Schwan Memorial Drive in Marshall is named after him. His older brother, Alfred Schwan, who had been the company's head of manufacturing, was named president.
In October 1994, the Minnesota Department of Health informed the Schwan Food Company that 67 people in southern Minnesota had been infected with salmonella enteritidis
and that there was a strong statistical link between the illnesses and Schwan's ice cream. Schwan quickly halted the production and sale of the company's ice cream and began a public-awareness campaign asking people not to eat Schwan's ice cream products. An investigation found that the source of the contamination was a contractor's truck that had delivered ice cream premix to Schwan. The trucking company had inadequately washed the tanker truck after transporting raw, unpasteurized eggs. Schwan's actions in response to the recall were unconventional at the time and have since been imitated by companies facing recalls.
In 1996, Schwan's introduced the Freschetta pizza line and acquired La Roue du Pay d'auge, a frozen foods producer in France. In 1998, Schwan's opened a pizza plant in Osterweddingen, Germany
. In 2001, Schwan acquired the Edwards dessert company from Ripplewood Holdings
, and in 2003, the Mrs. Smith's dessert company from Flowers Foods
. Also in 2003, the corporation changed its name from Schwan's Sales Enterprises to The Schwan Food Company.
Recently, the Schwan Food Company began to focus on convenience of meals at affordable prices under their new "Prepared To Serve" tagline.
In 2010, Schwans teamed up with the TV series Top Chef
and is now selling dishes that were made famous by chefs that were featured on the Bravo television series.
. In 2007, after 28 years of flying, the company announced the retirement of the squadron.
Marshall, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,735 people, 4,914 households, and 2,914 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,537.0 people per square mile . There were 5,182 housing units at an average density of 625.4 per square mile...
, the company sells frozen food
Frozen food
Freezing food preserves it from the time it is prepared to the time it is eaten. Since early times, farmers, fishermen, and trappers have preserved their game and produce in unheated buildings during the winter season. Freezing food slows down decomposition by turning water to ice, making it...
s from home-delivery trucks, in grocery-store freezers, by mail and to the food service industry. The company produces, markets, and distributes products developed under brands such as Schwan's, Red Baron, Freschetta, Tony's, Mrs. Smith's, Edwards, Pagoda Express and many others.
Corporate divisions
The company's major business units include Schwan's Home Service, Schwan's Consumer Brands, Schwan's Food Service, and Schwan's Global Supply Chain.Schwan's Home Service, the company's flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
business unit, is the largest direct-to-home food delivery provider in the United States. Home Service markets and distributes more than 400 products under the Schwan's and LiveSmart brands. The business has nearly 500 sales-and-distribution centers located throughout the United States with 5,700 delivery vehicles.
Schwan's Consumer Brands markets frozen food products in grocery stores primarily in the Western Hemisphere. Schwan's Food Service markets and distributes frozen-food products to the food service industry. Schwan's Global Supply Chain is a manufacturing cooperative
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
that coordinates the company's production processes and helps develop new products.
Company history
In 1952, Marvin Schwan began home delivery of his family's homemade ice cream to rural western Minnesota. Schwan's expanded quickly to cover much of the Midwestern United StatesMidwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
and made a number of acquisitions, including the Holiday Ice Cream Company and Russell Dairy. In 1957, the product line was expanded to include juice concentrates
Concentrate
A concentrate is a form of substance which has had the majority of its base component removed. Typically this will be the removal of water from a solution or suspension such as the removal of water from fruit juice...
, and in 1962 Schwan's began selling frozen fish products.
During the 1970s, the company began selling pizza to schools, launched the Red Baron pizza brand for sale in grocery stores, and formed the Red Baron Squadron flight team to promote the brand. During the 1980s, Schwan's made further acquisitions, including pizza manufacturer Sabatasso Foods and Asian-foods manufacturer Minh Food Corporation. Schwan's opened a plant in Leyland
Leyland, Lancashire
Leyland is a town in the South Ribble borough of Lancashire, England, approximately six miles south of the city of Preston.Throughout the 20th and 21st century, the community has seen a large growth in industry, population and farming, due to the establishment of Leyland Motors, housing...
, Preston, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1989. In 1993, founder Marvin Schwan died of a heart attack at the age of 64. Marvin Schwan Memorial Drive in Marshall is named after him. His older brother, Alfred Schwan, who had been the company's head of manufacturing, was named president.
In October 1994, the Minnesota Department of Health informed the Schwan Food Company that 67 people in southern Minnesota had been infected with salmonella enteritidis
Salmonella
Salmonella is a genus of rod-shaped, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming, predominantly motile enterobacteria with diameters around 0.7 to 1.5 µm, lengths from 2 to 5 µm, and flagella which grade in all directions . They are chemoorganotrophs, obtaining their energy from oxidation and reduction...
and that there was a strong statistical link between the illnesses and Schwan's ice cream. Schwan quickly halted the production and sale of the company's ice cream and began a public-awareness campaign asking people not to eat Schwan's ice cream products. An investigation found that the source of the contamination was a contractor's truck that had delivered ice cream premix to Schwan. The trucking company had inadequately washed the tanker truck after transporting raw, unpasteurized eggs. Schwan's actions in response to the recall were unconventional at the time and have since been imitated by companies facing recalls.
In 1996, Schwan's introduced the Freschetta pizza line and acquired La Roue du Pay d'auge, a frozen foods producer in France. In 1998, Schwan's opened a pizza plant in Osterweddingen, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. In 2001, Schwan acquired the Edwards dessert company from Ripplewood Holdings
Ripplewood Holdings
Ripplewood is an American private equity firm based in New York, New York that focuses on leveraged buyouts, late stage venture, growth capital, management buyouts, leveraged recapitalizations and other illiquid investments....
, and in 2003, the Mrs. Smith's dessert company from Flowers Foods
Flowers Foods
Flowers Foods, headquartered in Thomasville, Georgia, is a producer and marketer of packaged bakery foods in the United States. The company operates 39 bakeries that produce breads, buns, rolls, snack cakes, and pastries...
. Also in 2003, the corporation changed its name from Schwan's Sales Enterprises to The Schwan Food Company.
Recently, the Schwan Food Company began to focus on convenience of meals at affordable prices under their new "Prepared To Serve" tagline.
In 2010, Schwans teamed up with the TV series Top Chef
Top Chef
Top Chef is an American reality competition show that airs on the cable television network Bravo, in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges. They are judged by a panel of professional chefs and other notables from the food and wine industry with one or more contestants...
and is now selling dishes that were made famous by chefs that were featured on the Bravo television series.
Red Baron Squadron
The Red Baron Squadron was established in 1979 as a promotion for Red Baron Pizza. The squadron flew vintage Stearman biplanes and was the oldest civilian air team in the United States. They attended airshows throughout the country and flew formation aerobatics. Their base of operations and air museum was at the Southwest Minnesota Regional Airport in Marshall, MinnesotaMarshall, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,735 people, 4,914 households, and 2,914 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,537.0 people per square mile . There were 5,182 housing units at an average density of 625.4 per square mile...
. In 2007, after 28 years of flying, the company announced the retirement of the squadron.