Damon Mcknight
The Sara Lee Corporation was an American consumer-goods company based in Downers Grove, Illinois. In 2012, Hillshire Brands sold its Australian bakery operations to McCain Foods. In 2021, McCain Foods sold the company to the New Zealand investment company South Island Office. In 2024, the company was purchased by the Quinn family, making it Aussie-owned.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Original owner | Charles Lubin and Arthur Gordon |
| Year founded | 1935 |
| Current owner | Klark and Brooke Quinn |
| Year acquired by current owner | 2024 |
| Headquarters | Lisarow, NSW, Australia |
| Year established in Australia | 1971 |
| Number of employees | 200-220 |
| Parent company | Sara Lee Corporation |
| Parent company location | Downers Grove, Illinois |
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What You'll Learn
Sara Lee Corporation was an American consumer-goods company
The Sara Lee Corporation was an American consumer-goods company based in Downers Grove, Illinois. The company was incorporated in 1941 as the South Street Company and went through several name changes before adopting the name Consolidated Grocers Corporation in 1945 and Consolidated Foods Corporation in 1954.
In 1956, Consolidated Foods purchased Kitchens of Sara Lee, which had been founded in 1935 by Charles Lubin, who named it after his daughter. The firm's best-selling product was Sara Lee cheesecake. In 1985, the entire corporation took on the name Sara Lee.
Sara Lee Corporation produced and sold frozen baked goods, fresh and processed meats, coffee, hosiery and knitwear, and household and shoe-care products. It was the largest producer of frozen baked goods in the United States and had operations in over 40 countries, selling its products in more than 180 countries worldwide.
In 2011, Sara Lee announced that it would split into two units: Hillshire Brands for North American operations and D.E Master Blenders 1753 for international beverage and bakery businesses. In 2012, Hillshire Brands sold its Australian bakery operations to McCain Foods. Over the years, Sara Lee Corporation underwent several acquisitions and divestitures, including the sale of its North American fresh bakery business to Grupo Bimbo in 2010 and the sale of its European packaged meats business in 2005.
In 2018, Tyson Foods sold the Sara Lee brand and product line to the private investment firm Kohlberg & Company, marking the end of the Sara Lee Corporation as an independent entity.
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Sara Lee Australia was acquired by Klark and Brooke Quinn
Sara Lee Australia, a dessert manufacturer, was acquired by Klark and Brooke Quinn in February 2024. The company had gone into voluntary administration in October 2023, owing creditors $55 million. The Quinns, who are Australians, received the keys to the Lisarow factory on the New South Wales Central Coast.
Klark and Brooke Quinn are no strangers to steering struggling companies through administration. In 2012, the couple revived the prominent Australian chocolate maker Darrell Lea. They beat about 70 other interested parties to acquire Sara Lee. The Quinns have said they are committed to the company for the long term and want to see more Australians associate the brand with creating good memories. They intend to get creative with its ice-cream products, experiment with different formats such as single serves, and launch into new categories beyond dessert.
Brooke Quinn has stated that they do not intend to change the product quality. Instead, they want to grow the offering into more formats and channels. They also plan to push harder into the foodservice sector, which currently makes up about 20% of the business. Klark Quinn is eager to see the brand recover and has prioritized "speed to market and agility" and strengthening relationships with key retailers and suppliers.
The Lisarow factory was established in 1971, and many of the staff have dedicated their lives to Sara Lee. The Quinns have expressed their commitment to the staff and local suppliers. They intend to invest in the Sara Lee brand and continue to provide Australians with the classic desserts they love, along with new products.
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The company went into voluntary administration in 2023
The Sara Lee Corporation was an American consumer goods company based in Downers Grove, Illinois. The company was split into two in 2012, with one company focusing on North American operations and the other on international beverage and bakery businesses. Over the years, Sara Lee has sold various business units and product lines, including its Australian bakery operations in 2012.
In 2021, Sara Lee Australia was acquired by the New Zealand investment company South Island Office, which combined the business with Original Foods Baking Co. However, in October 2023, the company went into voluntary administration.
The voluntary administration process allowed Sara Lee to continue operating while working with administrators to restructure the business and explore options for moving forward. During this period, the company's operations remained active, and its products continued to be available to consumers. Staff, suppliers, and customers showed their support for the business, ensuring that production and sales continued despite the challenges.
In January 2024, it was announced that Sara Lee's Australian and New Zealand businesses had been acquired by a private company owned by Klark and Brooke Quinn, saving the iconic dessert brand. The Quinn family, who had previously been involved in acquisitions of other Australian brands, expressed their pride in putting the "Aussie-made and owned stamp" on the Sara Lee brand.
The sale of the company to the Quinn family preserved more than 200 jobs at the manufacturing facility in Lisarow, New South Wales, and ensured the continuation of the beloved dessert brand. The new ownership also brought excitement for the future of Sara Lee, with plans to continue the tradition of providing high-quality baked goods to Australian and New Zealand consumers.
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Sara Lee was founded by Charles Lubin, who named it after his daughter
The Sara Lee Corporation was an American consumer-goods company based in Downers Grove, Illinois. In 2012, Hillshire Brands sold its Australian bakery operations to McCain Foods. In 2013, McCain Foods acquired the Sara Lee business from Hillshire Brands Co. for approximately $85 million.
Lubin's cheesecake became the first of many baked goods that would bear his daughter's name. In 1953, Sara Lee revolutionised the food industry by developing a process for freezing and shipping baked goods on an industrial scale. This innovation allowed the company to expand its reach and distribute its products more widely.
Over the years, Sara Lee Corporation expanded its operations and product offerings. In 1986, the company ventured into new territories by acquiring the manufacturing and mail-order operations of Wolferman's, a maker of English muffins. In 1988, Sara Lee continued its acquisition strategy by purchasing the Adams-Millis Corporation, a leading manufacturer of socks and stockings in the United States.
While the company diversified its business interests, baked goods remained at the heart of its success. In Australia, Sara Lee established its presence in 1971 by opening a bakehouse in Lisarow, New South Wales. This location played a significant role in the company's history, as it sourced oranges from nearby orchards for its famous orange cake.
Today, Sara Lee Australia continues to be a beloved bakery brand, known for its cheesecakes, apple pies, danishes, and puddings. The company has been passed on to new owners, Klark and Brooke Quinn, who proudly carry on the legacy of Charles Lubin's vision, creating delicious baked goods for Australians and New Zealanders.
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Sara Lee products are baked goods and desserts
The Sara Lee Corporation was an American consumer-goods company based in Downers Grove, Illinois. The company sold food, beverage, and household products in over 180 countries and had around 137,000 employees worldwide. The Sara Lee name was used for a variety of frozen and packaged foods and was famous for its slogan, "Everybody doesn't like something, but nobody doesn't like Sara Lee".
Sara Lee's founder, Charles Lubin, bought a small chain of Chicago neighborhood bakeries called Community Bake Shops in 1935. He named his first product, a cream cheesecake, after his then eight-year-old daughter, Sara Lee Lubin, and changed the name of the business to Kitchens of Sara Lee. Over the years, the company expanded its product line and, in 1951, introduced the soon-to-be-famous All Butter Pound Cake.
In 2011, Sara Lee sold its North American Fresh Bakery unit to Grupo Bimbo for $959 million, retaining the right to use the Sara Lee name on frozen desserts and meat products. In 2012, Hillshire Brands sold its Australian bakery operations to McCain Foods. In 2021, McCain Foods sold the Sara Lee desserts and baked foods business in Australia to the New Zealand-based investor group South Island Office (SIO), which combined it with the Christchurch-based baking company Original Foods Baking Co.
Sara Lee's products include a wide range of baked goods and desserts, such as cheesecakes, pound cakes, cream pies, fruit pies, apple pies, danishes, puddings, and frozen baked goods. The company has a strong focus on quality and taste, and its products are well-known for their high standards. Sara Lee has also been innovative in the food industry, developing a process for freezing baked goods that retained product quality while enabling mass distribution.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Sara Lee is not Australian-owned. The Sara Lee Corporation was an American consumer-goods company based in Downers Grove, Illinois. In 2012, Hillshire Brands sold its Australian bakery operations to McCain Foods. In 2021, McCain Foods sold Sara Lee Australia to the New Zealand investment company South Island Office. In 2024, the company was purchased by the Quinn family, who are Australian.
As of 2024, Sara Lee Australia is owned by the Quinn family, who are Australian.
In 2012, the Sara Lee Corporation was split into two companies: one for North American operations, renamed Hillshire Brands, and the other for international beverage and bakery businesses, named D.E. Master Blenders 1753. Hillshire Brands was acquired by Tyson Foods in 2014, and the Sara Lee brand was sold to private investment firm Kohlberg & Company in 2018.
