Dina Mia Kitchens
Iron River, MI
dinamiakitchens.com
Why is a regional Italian food company based in Iron River, Michigan shipping frozen pizza overnight everywhere from Los Angeles, CA to Boca Raton, FL? Because that’s the cult-like following Dina Mia Kitchens has earned. “We have a gentleman who spends his time between Wyoming, Tennessee and Florida. He grew up loving Dina Mia pizza while attending summer camps in the Northwoods of Wisconsin; we ship him his ‘fix’ 2-3 times per year, no matter where he is in the country,” said owner Jeff Ofsdahl. “And that’s just one instance. We have so many loyal patrons throughout the U.S. that routinely have our products shipped to them so they can enjoy and share the experience,” added Jeff.
Jeff and his wife Jolene bought the beloved 50+-year-old business in 2023, and are focused on keeping it a family affair, with their daughters Anna and Ally helping out when school schedules allow. With Jeff’s 20-plus years of experience in retail management and Jolene’s marketing acumen, they were off to a good start; buying the business was one thing, but having a plan to grow it was another. Ryan Meske, a local banker, referred them to the Michigan SBDC, where they met with Associate Regional Director Daniel Yoder for assistance.
“Daniel was absolutely wonderful. He helped us navigate our way through the business plan process,” said Jeff. Daniel added, “It was a joy to work with Jeff and Jolene. They were enthusiastic, and eager to learn. We used a software tool called LivePlan and leveraged my experience as a commercial lender. Buying a business is a team approach, and we tapped into the expertise of the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, the Iron County Economic Chamber Alliance and their local banker.”
With a solid plan in place, Jeff grew Dina Mia’s sales within its first year to meet their year three goal. “The plan is to continue growing, using our motto—’from our kitchen to yours,’” shared Jeff. “Thank you to the Michigan SBDC for assisting us with our business plan. You’re helping make our dreams come true; the future is bright!”