Schwan's celebrates completion of Salina pizza plant expansion

The largest frozen pizza plant in the world is now officially open after the Schwan's Company celebrated the completion of a major expansion to its Salina facility Friday.

Schwan's Company CEO Dimitrios Smyrnios said he often lives a fast-paced life, but when he woke up Friday morning he knew, because of the years-long process that brought the company to this moment, that it was a special day to take things slow.

"(I wanted) to enjoy every little minute of this accomplishment," Smyrnios said.

In the works since at least 2019, Smyrnios said this accomplishment was a proud moment for everyone who instrumental in making the 400,000-square-foot expansion a reality.

"It's an incredibly exciting day, not just for Schwan's and our team, but for the community of Salina (and) for the state of Kansas," Smyrnios said.

That accomplishment has culminated in what is now the largest frozen pizza plant in the world, with the ability to produce more than 100 million Red Baron and Tony's pizzas each year.

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Words from federal and state leaders

Joining Smyrnios in speaking Friday were three people who he said were instrumental in the success of this expansion.

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran remarked that he traveled from Washington, the capital of the United States, to Kansas for this exciting event.

"I'm much more pleased to be in the Pizza Capital of the World," Moran joked.

Moran said he met the Schwan brothers Marvin and Alfred, getting to know Al well, and that they would be proud of how this facility, and the company they helped create and grow, has come to fruition.

"I think about a family that had a dream, and what success they would see in that dream today," Moran said.

He said this plant is a great example of the concept of the American dream.

"In the success of Schwan's, and the company that now owns what was Schwan's, the 80-some expansions, has meant that time and time again, more Kansans have a chance to pursue their dreams," Moran said.

Moran also thanked the local leaders in Salina and Saline County for the work in helping bring this project to the community and the people here in Salina who make this plant what it is.

"None of this happens when we don't have people who are willing to go to work," Moran said. "Salina and Kansas is a place where people still know the value of work."

U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann said he is proud that a place in Kansas is going to be key to feeding the rest of the world.

"This plant is dedicated to feeding people, which is a Kansas tradition," Mann said. "The great men and women who ventured west in search of new opportunities settled in our state and took on the burden of feeding, fueling and clothing the world."

He said the ways and technologies have changed the way Kansas feeds the world, but successful endeavors like the state-of-the-art facility that Schwan's has built in Salina are a testament to that tradition.

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Finally, Kansas Lt. Gov. and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said he was excited to see this process which began years ago come full circle to its completion.

"From the first conversation we had about the concept of this being built in Kansas to seeing and being able to experience the new pizza plant today is a wonderful thing," Toland said.

Toland said looking at the things happening with Schwan's in Salina is an achievement.

"There is a renaissance that has occurred in Salina and this region and it fueled in large part by the investment that has been made by Schwan's," Toland said.

He said by aligning the strengths of the state with the growth of the private sector, Kansas is thriving in its goals of economic development to bring a bright future for the state.

"Focusing on new demand and seizing on new opportunities we can provide transformational benefits for our state and most importantly for our children for years to come," Toland said.

What's next for Schwan's in Salina?

Schwan's is not finished in Salina. While the pizza plant expansion is now complete, the company is working on its next project at the site, a 140,000-square-foot expansion of distribution center space in Salina.

"These expansion plans in Salina will continue, we'll continue to invest money here as we grow our business," Smyrnios said. "That is the key to this community and to this facility."

In total, the Schwan's facility will have a more than 1 million-square-foot footprint in this community, and adding more than 225 new jobs to the workforce.

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Schwan's celebrates completion of pizza plant expansion in Salina