Palermo Villa, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., acquired the assets of Connie’s Naturals, LLC, a Carol Stream, Ill.-based frozen pizza manufacturer. The transaction does not include Connie’s restaurants, which are located throughout Illinois.

With the acquisition, Connie’s frozen pizza becomes part of the Palermo’s family of brands, which includes Palermo’s Pizza, P’mos, Screamin’ Sicilian and Urban Pie Pizza Co.

Included in the acquisition are trademarks for various varieties of Connie’s frozen pizza, which Palermo’s is already manufacturing using the original recipes under an agreement that went into effect last fall. Palermo’s also provides much of the distribution for Connie’s frozen pizza as part of that same agreement.

“This acquisition helps solidify Palermo’s position as one of the nation’s largest pizza companies,” says Giacomo Fallucca, president and CEO of Palermo Villa. “Adding Connie’s to our offerings expands our footprint in the Midwest and particularly in Chicago, one of the biggest frozen pizza markets in the country. And, of course, it will further strengthen our business in a highly competitive industry.”

Connie’s frozen pizza is a natural fit for Palermo’s. Both companies are family owned and were started in the Midwest in the early 1960s by the fathers of the current owners.

“We’re confident that Palermo’s will continue to make Connie’s frozen pizza with the quality and passion that my family has for decades,” says Marc Stolfe, president of Connie’s.

As part of the purchase, Palermo’s is introducing new Connie’s frozen pizza packaging.

Palermo Villa was named Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ 2016 Frozen Foods Processor of the Year (November 2016 issue).