News in brief

Sara Lee CEO steps down following stroke

Chairman and CEO of Sara Lee Corp. Brenda Barnes has resigned from the company so she can focus on improving her health after she suffered a stroke in May, the...

News in brief

Sara Lee to focus on food and beverage with sale of air care firm

US group Sara Lee has announced the sale of its air care business Ambi Pur to Procter & Gamble as it looks to consolidate itself as a top international food...

Sara Lee accused of ‘misleading’ marketing

Sara Lee has issued a clarification statement regarding its EarthGrain-brand bread after organic farming campaigners at Cornucopia accused it of “misleading and unethical” claims.

News in brief

Sara Lee plans 20 percent salt reduction

Sara Lee intends to reduce the salt content in a range of products by an average of 20 percent over the next five years, the company has announced.

Spanish slump pulls down Sara Lee bakery sales

Sara Lee has posted a sharp drop in international bakery sales for the fiscal year, a month after announcing the sale of three Spanish bakeries.

Sara Lee sells three Spanish bakery plants

Sara Lee is selling three of its bakery plants in Spain to Grupo Siro because of weakness in the Spanish market.

News in brief

Sara Lee announces plan to shed 700 jobs

Sara Lee has announced that it will slash 700 jobs from its global workforce and outsource parts of its North American and European finance and information services groups.

News in brief

SaraLee announces strong Q1 profits, including bakery

SaraLee has announced that its profits were up to $232m in the first quarter of the financial year, from $200m for the same period last year.

Sarah Lee sales up despite full-year and Q4 loss

Rising raw material costs such as wheat and energy have not crimped sales growth for Illinois-based Sara Lee Corporation which has notched a 10.3 per cent jump in fiscal...

Sara Lee clarifies whole grain claim

Sara Lee has changed its whole grain claim on its white bread following a settlement agreement with an advocacy group, demonstrating the current sensitivity surrounding health claims.

News briefs: Sara Lee, Dunkin Donuts and Dorset Cereals

In financial news this week, Sara Lee sells its Mexican business to focus on core brands, Dunkin' Donuts increases franchises in Tennessee, and Dorset Cereals is purchased by Wellness Foods.

News briefs: Premier Foods, Sara Lee and J&J Snacks

As the commodity squeeze continues to bite, Premier Foods slashes its shareholder payout, Sara Lee chairman buys some of her own shares, and J&J snack foods increases prices across the...

Overseas sales boost Sara Lee Q2 profit

US-based food and body care company Sara Lee yesterday posted profit gains for the second quarter of the fiscal year 2008, with particularly strong performances from the international beverage and...

Sara Lee Q1 profits plunge

Rising commodity costs and increased media and promotional spend have led to a massive 40 per cent drop in profits for US food giant Sara Lee.

Further bread price increases to drive Sara Lee's margins

Sara Lee will "take price increases as necessary" in order to offset increasing raw material costs in its bakery segment, the company said yesterday in its annual analyst meeting. ...

Bakery segments behind sales turnaround for Sara Lee

Net sales for Sara Lee increased 7.1 per cent to $12.3bn (€9.1bn) for the fiscal year 2007 from $11.5bn (€8.5bn) the previous year, the company has said.

Sara Lee reveals whole grain content of bread

US based food and beverage retailer Sara Lee claimed last week it is the first in the industry to provide "straight-forward information about whole grains across our product portfolio". ...

Sara Lee launches 100 percent whole wheat bread

Sara Lee has launched a new bread category that it claims could help increase US whole grain consumption by billions of grams per year.

Sara Lee encourages food-lovers to get emotional

American-owned food group Sara Lee is going back to basics with a new marketing campaign designed to remind food lovers of the joys of eating - shirking the trend towards...

Sara Lee looks to baked goods after financial setback

Despite set backs to its global expansion plans, the Sara Lee corporation has revealed that's its North American bakery division still remains profitable.

Sara Lee sees Q3 profits tumble

Yesterday American-owned Sara Lee reported a massive 77 per cent drop in third quarter operating profit from $189m last year to $42m in 2006, impacted by a vast portfolio cull.

Sara Lee negotiates European meats sale

US food and consumer goods producer Sara Lee announced Friday it has entered discussions with Smithfield to sell its European meats arm, following a drop in the division's anticipated selling...

Sara Lee announces sale of European branded apparel business

US bakery and international consumer goods manufacturer Sara Lee has announced the sale of its European branded apparel business as part of the company's bid to redefine its over-stretched product...

Sara Lee profits plunge as transformation continues

Leading US bakery Sara Lee yesterday reported a decline in sales in its first quarter, with net income hit hard as the company enters the ninth month in its five-year...

Sara Lee to sell coffee business, focus on food

US bakery and international consumer goods manufacturer Sara Lee has signed an agreement to sell its US retail coffee business as part of the company's bid to redefine its over-stretched...