Celeste Pizza is disappearing from grocery store freezers after parent company Conagra Brands confirmed that it stopped producing the decades-old frozen pizza line. Shoppers may still be able
Celeste Pizza is disappearing from grocery store freezers after parent company Conagra Brands confirmed that it stopped producing the decades-old frozen pizza line.
Shoppers may still be able to find Celeste products while retailers work through their remaining inventory, but Conagra says no additional pizzas are being made. Once existing supplies are sold, the products are expected to disappear from shelves.
Why Is Celeste Pizza Being Discontinued?The decision forms part of a plan by Conagra to simplify its portfolio and eliminate smaller brands and products that are delivering weak returns.
Conagra CEO John Brase discussed Celeste during the company's fiscal first-quarter 2027 earnings update on Sept. 30, and identified the pizza brand as one of the businesses where the company does not see enough future potential to justify continued investment.
Exiting Celeste reduced Conagra's first-quarter sales by about 15 basis points, although the company expects the move to improve profit margins over time.
Celeste may also be only the beginning. Conagra is reviewing other brands and individual products as it looks to reduce complexity in its operations. The company currently has more than 400 single-serve meal SKUs, and management believes that assortment can become much smaller and more productive.
Conagra Battles Falling SalesThe portfolio shake-up comes as Conagra deals with weaker consumer demand and pressure across its frozen food business.
The company reported fiscal first-quarter net sales of roughly $2.6 billion, down 1.4% from a year earlier, while organic net sales slipped 1.1%. However, adjusted earnings came in ahead of expectations at $0.41 per share.
Fiscal Q1 2027 earnings highlights
Conagra maintained its fiscal 2027 forecast for organic sales to decline between 1% and 3%.
For Celeste fans, however, the financial restructuring means the end of a brand that has been sold for decades. The pizza traces its roots to Celeste ”Mama” Lizio's Chicago-area food business, which was sold to Quaker Oats in 1969.
The decision has already prompted nostalgic reactions online from customers remembering Celeste as an inexpensive childhood freezer staple. Unless Conagra changes course or sells the brand, the pizzas will be gone once the remaining inventory runs out.
