Tyson Foods Acquires Bosco’s Pizza

Adding to its prepared foods arsenal, Tyson Foods announced Monday (Jan. 20) that it will acquire Bosco’s Pizza Co. of Warren, Mich. for an undisclosed sum.

Bosco’s Pizza produces a variety of stuffed bread sticks and frozen pizzas for food service and retail customers throughout the Midwest and at some retailers nationwide.

“This is part of our company’s strategic plan to grow our domestic prepared foods business,” said Donnie King, Tyson Foods’ president of prepared foods, customer and consumer solutions. “Bosco’s will be a good addition to our diversified portfolio of quality food offerings.”

Craig Mulhinch, vice president of Bosco’s sales and marketing, and Paul Morgan, vice president of Bosco’s operations, will continue to manage the day-to-day operations. The company employs about 150 people, all of whom are expected to become Tyson Foods’ employees.

Tyson will also continue to operate the products under the Bosco’s Pizza name.

Entrepreneur Mark Artinian created Bosco’s as a carry-out pizzeria in 1988 before he started delivering frozen pizzas to area high schools. In 1995, the company started producing frozen stuffed crust pizza, which soon led to stuffed bread sticks, the company’s main product line today. Artinian will remain with the business in an advisory role.

Tyson Foods is the largest supplier of pepperoni and pizza toppings to the food service industry. Tyson Foods markets prepared foods products to retail grocers, food service distributors, restaurant operators and on-site food service establishments such as schools, universities, corporate cafeterias, hotel chains, healthcare facilities and the military.