Mrs. Smith's
| Company type | Public (since 1972) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food manufacturing |
| Founded | 1925 in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Founder | Amanda Smith |
| Headquarters | Stilwell , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Robert C. Smith (president in 1972) |
| Products | Frozen pies |
| Parent | Schwan Food Company (since 2003) |
Mrs. Smith's Pies, also referred to as Mrs. Smith's Bakeries, ranks among the leading frozen pie brands in the United States.
History
The company was established in 1925 by Amanda Smith, a homemaker from Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Its origins trace back to her son Robert P., who sold slices of her handmade deep-dish fruit pies directly to customers and at a local YMCA lunch counter. The growing popularity prompted the creation of "Mrs. Smith's Delicious Home Made Pies, Inc." By 1930, the business expanded to operate four bakeries throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic areas, including sites in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia.
Frozen pie production commenced in 1952, five years after Amanda Smith passed away. Amanda’s grandson, Robert C. Smith, served in executive capacities before ascending to the presidency in 1972—the same year the company transitioned to a publicly traded entity.
In 1976, the Kellogg Company purchased Mrs. Smith's Pies for $56 million. Kellogg later divested its bakery segment to The J.M. Smucker Co. in 1994 for $84 million. After an unsuccessful attempt to sell to ConAgra, Smucker transferred ownership of Mrs. Smith's to Flowers Foods in 1996. The brand eventually became part of Schwan Food Company in 2003.
Throughout much of the twentieth century, the original Mrs. Smith's facility in Pottstown served as a major local employer. Although the primary pie production plant was demolished to make way for residential development, pie tin manufacturing continues at the site. Production operations were relocated to Stilwell, Oklahoma following the plant’s closure in 1998.