Private Label Pasta Salad Manufacturing
Zina's Fine Foods has produced refrigerated pasta salads under retailer and brand-owner labels since 1983. The South Plainfield, New Jersey facility runs SQF-certified production lines that fill cups, deli tubs, and foodservice bulk packs for grocery chains, foodservice distributors, and private brands across 40 states.
What we make
Our pasta salad library spans short and shaped pastas, Mediterranean and Italian recipes, classic American deli styles, and cleaner-label variants. Active product types include penne, rotini, tortellini, bow-tie, orzo, and shell pasta in recipes such as Aegean Greek, Tuscan, Sun-Dried Tomato, Authentic Pesto, Rainbow, Spinach and Feta, Southwest Taco, Green Goddess, Tortellini Roma, and Honey Lemon Bow-Tie. Buyers can choose an existing formulation, modify one for their own positioning, or commission a fully custom recipe.
How private label works at Zina's
The typical engagement runs in four stages.
1. Brief. You send a target positioning, flavor direction, ingredient guardrails (clean label, organic, allergen restrictions), packaging format, and a target retail or wholesale price band. Our R&D team responds with a feasibility note and an initial cost estimate.
2. Custom R&D. We produce bench samples in two to three weeks. Most projects go through one or two rounds of refinement before the formula locks. The R&D team is in-house, not outsourced, which keeps turnaround tight.
3. First production run. Minimum order quantities start at 300 pounds for small batches, which lets new brands or test programs ship without large upfront commitments. Standard private label runs scale to multi-thousand-pound production windows.
4. Ongoing supply. Once a SKU is in regular production, we manage forecasting, lot tracking, and shipping to your warehouses or third-party logistics partners.
Packaging options
We pack to retail-ready specs: single-serve cups (typically 5 to 12 oz), deli counter tubs (1 to 5 pounds), and foodservice bulk packs. Custom film, sleeve, and label formats are routine. The plant runs both modified-atmosphere and standard-seal lines.
Why retailers and brand owners pick Zina's
- SQF certified. The South Plainfield facility holds a current SQF certification under the GFSI-recognized food safety scheme. We also operate HACCP-compliant and Halal-certified production.
- 40 years in the category. Founded by Zina Shaknovich in 1983, the company has built a salad-only manufacturing playbook over four decades.
- Active retail relationships. Current customers include Ahold Delhaize banners (Stop & Shop, Giant Food, Hannaford, Martin's), Albertsons (Jewel-Osco, Shaw's), Wakefern (ShopRite, PriceRite), Meijer, Harris Teeter, Weis Markets, and Fresh Thyme. Foodservice distribution runs through Performance Food Group, US Foods, UNFI, KeHE, Lipari Foods, and Porky Products.
- East Coast logistics. South Plainfield, NJ sits inside the New York metro distribution belt, which keeps freight short to Northeast and Mid-Atlantic DCs.
Common formulations we produce
Mayonnaise-based recipes (homestyle macaroni, Italian pasta, ranch pasta), oil and vinegar recipes (Aegean Greek, antipasto, Tuscan), and dairy-cream recipes (alfredo bow-tie, pesto cream). Specialty programs include gluten-aware recipes built on rice or chickpea pasta, plant-based versions using cashew or oat dressings, and reduced-sodium versions for retail clean-label lines.
Lead times and capacity
R&D to first ship is typically 6 to 10 weeks for a new SKU. Repeat production for established programs ships within standard purchase order lead times. Capacity adjusts seasonally to support summer peak demand for cold pasta categories.
How to start a conversation
Email contact@zinasfoods.com with your target product, packaging, and estimated annual volume. A member of the team will respond within two business days with a project assessment and next steps. If you prefer to start with a wider conversation about our capabilities, the B2B program overview and certifications page cover the broader picture, and the find us page shows where existing customers carry our products today.