Celeste is a brand of frozen

pizza Pizza (, ) is a dish of Italian origin consisting of a usually round, flat base of leavened wheat-based dough topped with tomatoes, cheese, and often various other ingredients (such as various types of sausage, anchovies, mushrooms, onions ...

owned by Pinnacle Foods. It is widely referred to by its informal name Mama Celeste. The brand's slogan is ''Abbondanza'', which means "Abundance" in Italian.

Background

The product was named after Celeste (née Luise) Lizio (1908–1988) who carried the nickname "Mama Celeste". She 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 1932. In 1962, the Lizios closed the restaurant and began selling pizzas to other restaurants. The Quaker Oats Company acquired the product in 1969. Celeste frozen pizza was one of the top selling brands in the 1970s (with Mrs. Lizio, "Mama Celeste," prominently featured in the brand's television advertising) but subsequently experienced declines. The Celeste brand was later acquired by Aurora Foods, and then Pinnacle Foods. As of 2012, Pinnacle Foods marketed only frozen, microwavable "Pizza for One" varieties of Celeste pizzas. Distribution is now restricted to more regional markets.

External links

''New York Times'' obituary of Celeste Lizio

Pinnacle Foods' Celeste page
{{Pinnacle Foods, Inc. Frozen pizza brands Pinnacle Foods brands 1969 introductions

Background

See also

External links