Leyland’s pizza factory changes hands

FOOD group Dr Oetker has bought the European pizza business of the US-based Schwan Food Company, including its factory in Lancashire.

Dr Oetker, founded in Germany in 1891, said it had acquired Schwan’s business in 15 European countries including the Chicago Town trademark and licences for the Freschetta and Tony’s trademarks. Schwan will now focus on its US divisions.

The frozen pizza factory in Leyland, which employs 300 staff, will be integrated into Dr Oetker’s UK division. The company said it would be a case of “business as usual” for employees. It did not disclose the value of the deal.

Schwan’s has been making pizzas in Leyland since 1989. Family-owned Dr Oetker now claims to be the biggest pizza manufacturer in Europe. Its brands are worth £130m while the UK frozen pizza market is worth £365m. Its top brand in the UK is Dr Oetker Ristorante.