Schwan’s Company, a Minnesota food manufacturer and marketer, appointed Brian Schiegg as its next CEO on Monday.
Scheigg, who most recently served as president of the company’s consumer brand business, succeeds Dimitrios Smyrnios, who is retiring after more than a decade of leadership.
Schiegg is only the seventh CEO in the company’s 72 years of operations.
“The North American market is critical to our growth strategy, and I personally look forward to working with Brian to achieve our vision of becoming the No. 1 provider of ethnic cuisine in the United States,” said Minsok Pak, chairman of Schwan’s Company’s board of directors and CEO of Schwan’s parent company, CJ Foods, said in a statement.
The incoming executive has been with the company since 2021, managing the division that markets and sells foods from brands such as Red Baron, Freschetta, Tony’s pizza and Mrs. Smith’s, among others.
Before coming to Schwan’s company, Schiegg already had CPG experience under his belt. He previously served as chief operating officer of Ocean Spray Cranberries and also spent many years in leadership roles for subsidiaries and departments of Mars, Inc., where he oversaw business transformation, supply chain leadership, manufacturing, product development and brand building.
The executive change comes as Schwan’s is looking to boost production of its Asian foods, with an investment that includes a 700,000-square-foot facility in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a regional office and 142-acre site.
The company has plans to produce more of its Korean food brand bibigo, as well as Asian-inspired meals, sides, snacks and appetizers in shelf-stable and frozen categories as part of the purchase.
Schwan’s is expected to add 50 jobs to the office, with the potential of creating 100 jobs once the production facility is complete.