Lancaster Colony's Strategic Shift: The Marzetti Company Emerges as the New Identity

Lancaster Colony Corporation has officially transitioned to The Marzetti Company, marking a pivotal moment for the specialty food manufacturer. The company will commence trading under the new ticker symbol MZTI on Nasdaq, with a formal bell-ringing ceremony scheduled for July 10, 2025.

A 130-Year Legacy Reclaimed

The rebrand reflects a deliberate strategic decision to reconnect with the brand’s storied origins. What began in 1896 when Teresa Marzetti launched an Italian restaurant in Columbus, Ohio has evolved into a cornerstone of America’s food landscape. Her signature salad dressings, once a local treasure, became a nationally recognized product after Lancaster Colony’s acquisition in 1969. Today, Marzetti commands leading market positions in both the refrigerated dressings segment and the produce dips category.

Building a Food Brand Portfolio

Over the decades, Lancaster Colony constructed a diverse ecosystem of specialty food brands. The company houses category-leading Sister Schubert’s dinner rolls, New York Bakery garlic breads, and Reames noodles alongside its flagship Marzetti line. By 2014, the organization had completed its strategic repositioning, divesting all non-food operations to focus exclusively on specialty food manufacturing across retail and foodservice channels.

Strategic Expansion Through Licensing

Recent years have seen The Marzetti Company enter into licensing partnerships with prominent restaurant chains. The company now produces retail versions of products from Olive Garden, Chick-fil-A, Buffalo Wild Wings, Arby’s, Subway, and Texas Roadhouse, expanding its reach beyond traditional grocery channels and tapping into consumer preference for restaurant-quality foods at home.

Leadership Perspective on the Transition

Dave Ciesinski, President and CEO, emphasized that the rebrand represents a fundamental shift in how the company positions itself. “Consumers increasingly demand authenticity and transparency from food manufacturers,” Ciesinski stated. “The Marzetti name carries that authenticity—it represents 130 years of quality and flavor.” He further noted that while Lancaster Colony remains integral to the company’s heritage, the Marzetti identity better reflects the organization’s current market positioning and its commitment to delivering value across both customer and shareholder bases.

About The Marzetti Company

The Marzetti Company (Nasdaq: MZTI) operates as a specialty food manufacturer with a comprehensive portfolio spanning both retail and foodservice channels. Its retail offerings include Marzetti dressings and dips, New York Bakery garlic breads, and Sister Schubert’s dinner rolls, complemented by exclusive licensing agreements for Olive Garden dressings, Chick-fil-A sauces and dressings, Buffalo Wild Wings sauces, Arby’s sauces, Subway sauces, and Texas Roadhouse steak sauces and frozen rolls. The foodservice division supplies sauces, dressings, breads, and pasta to major restaurant chains nationwide. With approximately 3,900 team members, the company remains committed to its mission of making every meal better through high-quality, flavorful products.