Bellisio Foods Incorporated (formerly Michelina's) is an American
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 grains and produce in unheated buildings during the winter season. Freezing food slows decompositi ...
manufacturer based in
Minneapolis
Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
,
Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...
. The company was founded by
Jeno Paulucci Luigino "Jeno" Francesco Paulucci (July 5, 1918 – November 24, 2011) was an American food industry magnate, investor, and philanthropist. Paulucci started over 70 companies; among the most well-known ventures included his frozen food company B ...
in
Duluth, Minnesota
, settlement_type = City
, nicknames = Twin Ports (with Superior), Zenith City
, motto =
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top: urban Duluth skyline; Minnesota ...
and is now owned by Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited of Thailand. Its products are primarily sold in the United States but are also distributed in more than 12 countries worldwide, including
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
,
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
and
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
. As the third-largest producer of frozen entrees in the United States, the company has a daily production capacity of over two million meals.
The company produces over 400 products in multiple categories, including single-serve and multi-serve entrees, snacks, side dishes and specialty sauces. Example Bellisio brands are Michelina's, Michelina's Lean Gourmet, Michelina's Budget Gourmet, Fusion Culinary, Arden Kitchens, Chariton and Howlin’ Coyote.
The company also offers contract manufacturing via
private label
A private label, also called a private brand or private-label brand, is a brand owned by a company, offered by that company alongside and competing with brands from other businesses. A private-label brand is almost always offered exclusively by th ...
and co-pack partnerships for retail products. Example co-pack brands are
Chili's
Chili's Grill & Bar is an American casual dining restaurant chain. The company was founded by Larry Lavine in Texas in 1975 and is currently owned and operated by Brinker International.
History
Chili's first location, a converted postal statio ...
,
Boston Market
Boston Market Corporation, known as Boston Chicken until 1995, is an American fast casual restaurant chain headquartered in Golden, Colorado. It is owned by the Rohan Group.
Boston Market has its greatest presence in the Northeastern and Midweste ...
and
Zatarain's
Zatarain's is an American food and spice company based in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the United States that makes a large family of products with seasonings and spices that are part of the cultural cuisine and heritage of Louisiana and New Orleans ...
.
Bellisio operates Fusion Culinary Center, a wholly owned subsidiary based in
Lakeville, Minnesota
Lakeville is an exurb of Minneapolis-Saint Paul, and the largest city in Dakota County, Minnesota, United States. It is approximately south of both downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul along Interstate Highway 35. Starting as a flourishi ...
. Fusion conducts research and development for many national restaurant chains. Originally produced in Duluth, Bellisio's products now ship from its facility in
Jackson, Ohio
Jackson is a city in and the county seat of Jackson County, Ohio, United States approximately 27 mi (43 km) SE of Chillicothe. The population was 6,239 at the 2020 census.
History
Established in 1817, residents named the to ...
. Duluth still handles portions of the packaging and financial departments. The executive offices of Bellisio are in Minneapolis.
Acquisitions
On June 16, 2013, Bellisio purchased APC Foods, located in
Austin, Minnesota
Austin is a city in, and the county seat of, Mower County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 26,174 at the 2020 census. The town was originally settled along the Cedar River and has two artificial lakes, East Side Lake and Mill Po ...
, for $6.1 million. APC was for sale after its owners filed for receivership to avoid bankruptcy.
Also in 2013, Overhill Farms Inc., a frozen foods manufacturer based in
Vernon, California
Vernon is a city five miles (8.0 km) south of downtown Los Angeles, California, the nearest separate city to downtown Los Angeles. The population was 112 at the 2010 United States Census, the least of any incorporated city in the state. I ...
, was acquired by the company for approximately $80 million.
California based frozen food manufacturer Overhill Farms Inc. purchased by Bellisio Foods for approx. $80 million
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Bellisio was purchased by Thai food conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Foods
Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited, a company of the Charoen Pokphand Group, is an agro-industrial and food conglomerate headquartered in Thailand. It is the world's largest producer of feed and shrimp, and is also a global top three p ...
in 2016 for $1.08 billion.
References
External links
Bellisio Foods Corporate Website
Companies based in Minneapolis
Food manufacturers of the United States
Frozen food brands
Food and drink companies established in 1918
1918 establishments in Minnesota
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