Bellisio Foods

The story of Bellisio Foods is a classic American tale of immigrant roots and entrepreneurial fire. It begins with Jeno Paulucci, the son of Italian immigrants, Ettore and Michelina Paulucci. In 1990, after already building and selling major food brands like Chun King and Jeno's Pizza Rolls, Paulucci founded a new company called Luigino's, Inc. The company's focus was on a growing market: convenient, microwaveable frozen Italian entrees. The flagship brand, Michelina's, was named in honor of his mother and her authentic recipes. The company, which started in Duluth, Minnesota, focused on providing value and taste for busy consumers. This playbook proved successful. In 2007, Luigino's was renamed Bellisio Foods, a tribute to his parents' hometown in Italy and a name that allowed for expansion beyond the flagship Michelina's brand. The company grew to become the third-largest producer of single-serve frozen entrees in the United States, also producing for brands like Boston Market and Chili's. A major turning point occurred in 2011 when Paulucci, just a day before he passed away, agreed to sell the company to private equity firm Centre Partners. This marked a new chapter of growth. Then, in a landmark event in 2016, Bellisio Foods was acquired by the Thai food conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) for approximately $1.08 billion. This acquisition provided CPF a significant entry into the North American market and positioned Bellisio for its next phase of global growth.