Who Owns Healthy Choice?

Healthy Choice was created under unusual circumstances. Conagra's CEO Charles Harper suffered a heart attack in 1985 and became personally motivated to develop healthier food options. Under his direction, Conagra launched Healthy Choice in 1989 as a reduced-sodium, lower-fat, lower-calorie line of frozen dinners. The first products were frozen dinners designed to meet specific nutritional guidelines for saturated fat and sodium.

The brand grew rapidly in the late 1980s and 1990s as consumer awareness of diet-related health increased. At its peak in the 1990s, Healthy Choice expanded beyond frozen meals into soups, deli meats, and snacks, generating more than $1.5 billion in annual sales.

While the brand's revenue peaked in the late 1990s, Healthy Choice has remained a relevant and well-distributed brand in the frozen meal segment. More recent innovation has focused on fresh-style bowls and power bowls targeting health-oriented younger consumers.