Lakeside Foods To Acquire Oregon-Based Smith Frozen Foods

Nov. 26, 2024

The third generation of the Smith family appeared to be searching for a buyer; both are 100-year-old companies.

Lakeside Foods, a supplier of frozen and canned foods, will purchase the assets of Smith Frozen Foods, including its Weston, Ore., production facility and Garrett Packing/Brittany Farms operations in Milton-Freewater, Ore. Lakeside will continue to produce frozen vegetables at these former Smith facilities.

The acquisition grows Lakeside Foods’ frozen vegetable market share, especially on the West Coast. Smith’s operations include significant frozen storage capacity and some production capabilities new to Lakeside Foods.

“We’re pleased to have found a great buyer,” said Gordon Smith, third-generation owner and chairman of Smith Frozen Foods, founded 105 years ago. Smith president and CFO Gary Crowder will stay on with Lakeside Foods through the transition.

Lakeside Foods, which dates back to 1887, ended operations at one of the production facilities in its hometown of Manitowoc, Wis. “We remain committed to Manitowoc as our home and corporate headquarters, with four remaining production, warehouse and office locations,” the company said.

About the Author

Dave Fusaro | Editor in Chief

Dave Fusaro has served as editor in chief of Food Processing magazine since 2003. Dave has 30 years experience in food & beverage industry journalism and has won several national ASBPE writing awards for his Food Processing stories. Dave has been interviewed on CNN, quoted in national newspapers and he authored a 200-page market research report on the milk industry. Formerly an award-winning newspaper reporter who specialized in business writing, he holds a BA in journalism from Marquette University. Prior to joining Food Processing, Dave was Editor-In-Chief of Dairy Foods and was Managing Editor of Prepared Foods.