Salina's pizza footprint growing, with new Schwan's 140,000-square-foot distribution center

Just two years removed from the announcement of the expansion of the frozen pizza facility, the Schwan's Co. announced even more expansion to the Salina site, with a 140,000-square-foot distribution center coming next.

This new center, which is expected to be completed by early 2025 — in addition to the 400,000-square-foot pizza facility expansion — will bring the Salina Schwan's site to more than 1 million square feet.

To celebrate the announcement, Sen. Jerry Moran, Gov. Laura Kelly and Lt. Gov. David Toland, who is also commerce secretary, came to Salina to offer some remarks, as well as to the tour the nearly complete pizza expansion with Schwan's CEO Dimitrios Smyrnios.

"The reason we're (expanding) is because people (here) and a lot of customers across the U.S. are supporting Red Baron and Tony's brands, and our business is growing," Smyrnios said.

He said the company continues to invest in the Salina community because of the commitment and dedication made by local, state and federal leaders like those who visited Thursday.

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More Schwan's brands coming through Salina

The new distribution facility means more than just the pizza manufactured here will be sent out of Salina, but an array of other Schwan's brands as well.

"We will bring in Bibigo Asian food, desserts, mix them and then distribute them out to our customers and consumers throughout the United States," Smyrnios said.

Smyrnios said the distribution facility will be state-of-the-art, with a 38,000-pallet-position racking system and three automated cranes.

Working together to bring success

Everyone who spoke Thursday addressed the team effort it took to bring this kind of economic impact to Salina and Kansas.

"I commend (and) thank the city of Salina, Salina Airport Authority, county of Saline, the economic development (organization) and chamber of commerce officials who made the effort to demonstrate to Schwan's that this was the place for expansion," Moran said.

The state officials also thanked all the people and organizations that came together to make this a reality.

"We know that none of this happened by accident," said Toland. "It happened through planning, vision and execution, with Schwan's bringing together the best people. It took our team at the state as well, working with our local partners, to assemble the parts that make this work."

Toland also spoke of his appreciation to Schwan's leadership in the process, including being able to speak to Smyrnios anytime day or night, including during the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl win, to make sure the project succeeded.

"This has been a real joy, to become partners and friends, in building this new facility," said Toland.

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A 'city in the midst of an economic renaissance'

Kelly said she was excited to be back in Salina to tour the pizza expansion and to hear the announcement of even further expansion of Schwan's in Salina.

"This city is in the midst of an economic renaissance, and Schwan's is leading the way," Kelly said. "It seems like Schwan's never stops growing."

With this further investment and expansion, Kelly said Schwan's has shown its commitment to the Salina and central Kansas economies.

"Its investment of $600 million will fuel 225 jobs, so it's a great day for Salina and a great day for Kansas," Kelly said.

This is second time in the past 30 days that Salina has hosted Kelly, Moran and others to celebrate big economic developments in the area, with the grand opening of the Great Plains Manufacturing construction equipment last month.

These investments meant that Kelly was excited for the future success of the city she said was the first place in Kansas that she lived.

"To come back time and time again and watch the growth and watch this community make the best of itself, putting its best foot forward, I'm very pleased," Kelly said.

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Salina Schwan's expanding in Kansas with distribution center