Original Wagner Pizza

Original Wagner is one of the most prominent frozen pizza brands in Germany. Founded in 1968 by Ernst Wagner in Nonnweiler (Saarland), the company revolutionized the German market with industrially manufactured stone-baked pizzas. The brand is well-known for its diverse product lines, including 'Die Backfrische' and the American-style 'Big City Pizza'.

While the brand was originally a family-owned business (Wagner Tiefkühlprodukte GmbH), it was gradually acquired by the Swiss conglomerate Nestlé starting in 1994, becoming a wholly owned subsidiary by 2013. In recent years, Nestlé has moved most of its European frozen pizza business, including Wagner, into a joint venture called European Pizza Group. This partnership involves private equity firm PAI Partners as the majority owner and manager, while Nestlé retains a minority stake. Production remains centered in Germany, particularly at the original site in Braunshausen.