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Beloved '70s Frozen Pizza Brand Is Officially Discontinued After Decades On Shelves
The Takeout • • business
Key Points:
- Mama Celeste frozen pizzas, a once-popular brand dating back to 1937, is being discontinued by its current owner Conagra, with the phase-out expected to complete by early 2027.
- Conagra CEO John Brase cited the brand's low profitability and the company's strategy to exit small, unprofitable brands as reasons for discontinuing Mama Celeste.
- The brand originated from a Chicago restaurant founded by Celeste and Anthony Lizio and gained prominence after being sold to Quaker Oats in 1969, with Celeste herself becoming a well-known spokeswoman.
- Mama Celeste pizza has appeared in popular culture, including TV shows like "The Simpsons" and "Golden Girls," and was nostalgically reviewed during the pandemic by Dave Portnoy, who gave it a respectable score.
- While Mama Celeste will soon be off shelves, consumers can still find it in grocery stores and online until the brand is fully retired in 2027.
