BLOOMINGTON, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Schwan’s Company, a leading food business and subsidiary of CJ CheilJedang, the global food culture company, announced today that Roberto Rios has joined Schwan’s in the newly created position of chief marketing officer (CMO). Rios, a 25-year veteran of the global food and beverage industry, will serve on Schwan’s executive leadership committee.
“I am very excited to have Roberto join our team. His knowledge and experience in building strategic plans for global brands and executing those plans all the way to the consumer will be important in achieving our growth goals at Schwan’s and CJ,” said Schwan’s Company CEO Dimitrios Smyrnios. “As the food industry continues to rapidly change, we are particularly excited about the role Roberto will play in accelerating our company’s digital transformation, building on the strength of our brands, catching trends and meeting evolving consumer preferences and customer needs.”
Rios joins Schwan’s as it enters a new era with company owner, CJ CheilJedang. As announced earlier this year, CJ acquired a majority stake in Schwan’s Company and specific Schwan’s subsidiaries that focus on foods sold in retail and grocery channels as well as food-service venues. Together, the two organizations bring to market a dynamic portfolio of leading brands and high-quality foods across the pizza, Asian and dessert categories.
Schwan’s iconic brands in the food-service and retail sectors include Red Baron®, Freschetta®, Tony’s® and Big Daddy’s® pizza, Edwards® and Mrs. Smith’s® desserts and Pagoda® Asian-style snacks. Other CJ affiliates in the United States market the Asian-food brands Bibigo®, Annie Chun’s®, Kahiki®, Twin Marquis® and Chef One®.
“Schwan’s is a company with strong, trusted brands that consumers love and has developed an excellent reputation with its retail and food-service customers. I am thrilled to be a part of the global Schwan’s and CJ team and look forward to helping build winning strategies and drive innovation that will deliver growth for our business and our customers,” Rios said.
Rios brings more than 25 years of marketing experience in the global consumer goods industry. Most recently, he served as the global chief marketing officer for beverages at PepsiCo’s world headquarters, where he was responsible for leading global brands such as Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, 7UP, Mirinda, Aquafina and LifeWater. Earlier, Rios held marketing, general management and leadership positions with several PepsiCo divisions and subsidiaries, including the Frito-Lay snacks division and in countries such as Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil and Mexico. He received a degree in chemical engineering from the National University of Mexico. After college, he started his career in research and development with Procter & Gamble, Mexico.
Schwan’s Company
Based in Minnesota, Schwan’s Company is a leading U.S.-based manufacturer and marketer of quality foods offered through retail-grocery and food-service channels. Its many popular brands include Red Baron®, Tony’s®, Big Daddy’s®, Villa Prima™ and Freschetta® pizza, Mrs. Smith’s® and Edwards® desserts and Pagoda® Asian-style snacks. The company is an affiliate of global lifestyle company, CJ CheilJedang. To learn more about Schwan’s, visit www.schwanscompany.com.