Pinnacle Foods
Encyclopedia
Pinnacle Foods Group LLC is a leading packaged foods company headquartered in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, owned by The Blackstone Group. Pinnacle Foods is a key player in the shelf stable and frozen food categories and their products can be found in more than 85% of American households.
The company was founded in 1998 as Vlasic Foods International, acquiring the Swanson
TV dinner
s, Open Pit and Vlasic Pickles brands from the Campbell Soup Company
. In 2003, it acquired Aurora Foods, based in St. Louis, Missouri
. The Blackstone Group bought Pinnacle Foods in 2007. In 2009, Pinnacle Foods acquired Birds Eye
Foods, Inc.
and Dole
, in 1995. Wilson used the company to purchase the Van de Kamp's seafood brand from Pillsbury and several other brands as the years progressed. These brands were in many cases market leaders, but the parent companies no longer considered them a part of their core marketing strategy, and refused to spend any more money on new marketing and development.
In 2001, Wilson and other Aurora executives pleaded guilty to securities fraud for misrepresenting the company's financial statements. Wilson was sentenced to 33 months in prison and was fined $1 million.
In 2000, Jim Smith, a former executive with ConAgra, was named CEO and was charged with restoring Aurora Foods to health. He remained until 2002, which set events in motion leading to Aurora's acquisition. After the 2003 merger with Pinnacle Foods, Pinnacle closed the St. Louis offices and relocated all operations into the Cherry Hill, New Jersey
, headquarters.
Pinnacle Foods was acquired by The Blackstone Group, a New York City-based private equity firm, in April 2007.
In 2009 Pinnacle Foods acquired Birds Eye Foods, Inc. adding a mix of frozen and specialty brands to their portfolio.
The company was founded in 1998 as Vlasic Foods International, acquiring the Swanson
Swanson
Swanson is a brand of TV dinners, broths, and canned poultry made for the North American market. The TV dinner business is currently owned by Pinnacle Foods, while the broth business is currently owned by the Campbell Soup Company...
TV dinner
TV dinner
A TV dinner is a prepackaged frozen or chilled meal that usually comes as an individual portion...
s, Open Pit and Vlasic Pickles brands from the Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company , also known as Campbell's, is an American producer of canned soups and related products. Campbell's products are sold in 120 countries around the world. It is headquartered in Camden, New Jersey...
. In 2003, it acquired Aurora Foods, based in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. The Blackstone Group bought Pinnacle Foods in 2007. In 2009, Pinnacle Foods acquired Birds Eye
Birds Eye
__FORCETOC__Birds Eye is an international brand of frozen foods owned by Pinnacle Foods in North America and by private equity group Permira in Europe....
Foods, Inc.
History
Aurora Foods was founded by Ian Wilson, a former executive with Coca-ColaCoca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
and Dole
Dole Food Company
Dole Food Company, Inc. is an American-based agricultural multinational corporation headquartered in Westlake Village, California. The company is the largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world, operating with 74,300 full-time and seasonal employees who are responsible for over 300...
, in 1995. Wilson used the company to purchase the Van de Kamp's seafood brand from Pillsbury and several other brands as the years progressed. These brands were in many cases market leaders, but the parent companies no longer considered them a part of their core marketing strategy, and refused to spend any more money on new marketing and development.
In 2001, Wilson and other Aurora executives pleaded guilty to securities fraud for misrepresenting the company's financial statements. Wilson was sentenced to 33 months in prison and was fined $1 million.
In 2000, Jim Smith, a former executive with ConAgra, was named CEO and was charged with restoring Aurora Foods to health. He remained until 2002, which set events in motion leading to Aurora's acquisition. After the 2003 merger with Pinnacle Foods, Pinnacle closed the St. Louis offices and relocated all operations into the Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Cherry Hill is a township in Camden County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a population of 71,045, representing an increase of 1,080 from the 69,965 residents enumerated during the 2000 Census...
, headquarters.
Pinnacle Foods was acquired by The Blackstone Group, a New York City-based private equity firm, in April 2007.
In 2009 Pinnacle Foods acquired Birds Eye Foods, Inc. adding a mix of frozen and specialty brands to their portfolio.
Brands
- ArmourArmour and CompanyArmour & Company was an American slaughterhouse and meatpacking company founded in Chicago, Illinois, in 1867 by the Armour brothers, led by Philip Danforth Armour. By 1880, the company was Chicago's most important business and helped make the city and its Union Stock Yards the center of the...
(acquired from Dial Corporation) - Aunt Jemima Frozen BreakfastAunt JemimaAunt Jemima is a trademark for pancake flour, syrup, and other breakfast foods currently owned by the Quaker Oats Company of Chicago. The trademark dates to 1893, although Aunt Jemima pancake mix debuted in 1889. The Quaker Oats Company first registered the Aunt Jemima trademark in April 1937...
(name under license from Quaker Oats) frozen breakfast foods - Birds EyeBirds Eye__FORCETOC__Birds Eye is an international brand of frozen foods owned by Pinnacle Foods in North America and by private equity group Permira in Europe....
- CelesteCeleste (frozen pizza)Celeste is a brand of frozen pizza owned by Pinnacle Foods. It is widely referred to by its former name Mama Celeste. The brand's slogan is "Abbondanza", which means "Abundance" in Italian.-Background:...
- Duncan HinesDuncan HinesDuncan Hines was an American pioneer of restaurant ratings for travelers. He is best known today for the brand of food products that bears his name.-History:...
(acquired from Procter and Gamble in 1997) - Lender's BagelsLender's BagelsLender's Bagels is a brand and producer of bagels that pioneered the bagel industry in the United States. Established in 1927 in New Haven, Connecticut, it became a North American leader in the marketing, distribution and sales of bagels. Lender's introduced frozen bagels and sold the first...
(acquired Kraft FoodsKraft FoodsKraft Foods Inc. is an American confectionery, food and beverage conglomerate. It markets many brands in more than 170 countries. 12 of its brands annually earn more than $1 billion worldwide: Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Trident, Tang...
in 1999) - Log Cabin SyrupLog Cabin SyrupLog Cabin Syrup is a brand of pre-packaged syrups owned by Pinnacle Foods.Log Cabin syrup was introduced in 1887. Grocer Patrick J. Towle, who lived in the village of Forest Lake, Minnesota, named the syrup in honor of his childhood hero, President Abraham Lincoln, and his childhood in a log...
(acquired from Kraft FoodsKraft FoodsKraft Foods Inc. is an American confectionery, food and beverage conglomerate. It markets many brands in more than 170 countries. 12 of its brands annually earn more than $1 billion worldwide: Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Trident, Tang...
) - Mrs. Butterworth'sMrs. Butterworth'sMrs. Butterworth's is a brand of pre-packaged syrups and pancake mixes owned by Pinnacle Foods. The syrups come in distinctive bottles shaped in the form of a matronly female, Mrs. Butterworth. The packages, originally glass, are now mostly plastic....
(acquired from UnileverUnileverUnilever is a British-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world's consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products....
) - Mrs. Paul'sMrs. Paul'sMrs. Paul's is a brand of pre-packaged seafood products owned by Pinnacle Foods. The brand began in the 1940s and was owned by Campbell Soup until 1996....
- Open Pit
- SwansonSwansonSwanson is a brand of TV dinners, broths, and canned poultry made for the North American market. The TV dinner business is currently owned by Pinnacle Foods, while the broth business is currently owned by the Campbell Soup Company...
and Hungry-Man frozen TV dinnerTV dinnerA TV dinner is a prepackaged frozen or chilled meal that usually comes as an individual portion...
s (acquired from Campbell Soup CompanyCampbell Soup CompanyCampbell Soup Company , also known as Campbell's, is an American producer of canned soups and related products. Campbell's products are sold in 120 countries around the world. It is headquartered in Camden, New Jersey...
) - Tim's Cascade SnacksTim's Cascade SnacksTim's Cascade Snacks, a subsidiary of Pinnacle Foods, is a manufacturer of potato chips and popcorn. Their brands include Tim's Cascade Style Potato Chips, Hawaiian Brand Kettle Chips, and Erin's Gourmet Popcorn. The company was founded in 1986 by Tim Kennedy and its production facilities are...
- Van de Kamp's
- Vlasic
- Voila!Birds Eye__FORCETOC__Birds Eye is an international brand of frozen foods owned by Pinnacle Foods in North America and by private equity group Permira in Europe....