Sara Lee Corp. - food industry company news 
On the money: Flowers confident on cakes ahead of Hostess return
17 May 2013
US baker Flowers Foods has said it is "confident" its snack cake business will continue to thrive even as the new-look Hostess Brands returns to the market, with products including Twinkies.
US: Acquisition boosts Flowers Foods Q1
16 May 2013
US baker Flowers Foods recorded an increase in earnings in the first quarter driven by gains from a recent acquisition.
US: Hillshire adds to Sara Lee dessert stable
24 April 2013
US food group Hillshire Brands has added to its Sara Lee dessert line with the launch of two products.
US: Former Sara Lee chief Smits appointed Cargill CFO
2 April 2013
US agribusiness giant Cargill has appointed former Sara Lee chief executive, Marcel Smits, as its CFO.
US: Flowers Foods sales climb, "well-positioned" for growth
21 March 2013
US baker Flowers Foods said its sales are up year-to-date and that the company is "well-positioned" for accelerated growth in 2013.
US: Flowers closes Earthgrains, Sara Lee deal
27 February 2013
US baker Flowers Foods has purchased the royalty-free licenses to use the Sara Lee and Earthgrains brands in California from Groupo Bimbo.
CAGNY: Hillshire Brands plans branded push
21 February 2013
US ggroup Hillshire Brands plans to accelerate the growth of its core brands through higher investment in innovation and marketing.
US: Shiver takes CEO role at bakery giant Flowers Foods
18 February 2013
Allen Shiver, president of US baker Flowers Foods, has been named the company's new CEO.
US: JM Smucker Q3 profit climbs
15 February 2013
US spreads-to-coffee group JM Smucker has booked an increase in third-quarter profits, boosted by lower commodity costs, and the impact of its recently-acquired Sara Lee coffee business.
US: Flowers delays guidance on M&A outcome
7 February 2013
US baker Flowers Foods has delayed issuing guidance for 2013 until the outcome of its attempt to buy various assets, including bread operations from Hostess Brands, is clear.
just-food's outlook for 2013: Mega deals unlikely as consolidation continues
31 January 2013
There may be caution over the prospect for blockbuster deals in a dilapidated economic environment, but the food sector mergers and acquisitions table still has plenty to whet the appetite.
US: Hillshire Brands poaches Kraft exec for strategy VP role
4 January 2013
Hillshire Brands has announced that Brian Davison has joined the company from Kraft Foods as VP of corporate strategy and development.
AUS/US: Hillshire Brands to sell Aussie bakery unit to McCain Foods
19 December 2012
Hillshire Brands has agreed to sell its Australia and New Zealand bakery business, Kitchens of Sara Lee, to McCain Foods.
US: Ralcorp reports FY profit alongside ConAgra bid
27 November 2012
US own-label group Ralcorp Holdings, which today (27 November) agreed to a takeover bid from ConAgra Foods, returned to profit in its fiscal 2012 year, boosted by acquisitions made during the year.
US: Smucker raises outlook as profits rise
16 November 2012
JM Smucker has booked an increase in second-quarter earnings and raised its outlook for the full-year.
US: Flowers raises sales outlook on Q3 gains
9 November 2012
US baker Flowers Foods has reported a slight lift in third-quarter earnings, which were boosted by "solid" sales gains.
just the answer - PinguinLutosa COO Herwig Dejonghe
5 November 2012
European food group PinguinLutosa has undergone a period of significant change in recent years, with two notable acquisitions. And that transformation has continued but this time with a deal to sell one part of its business, Lutosa, to McCain Foods. COO Herwig Dejonghe speaks to just-food about the changes and his thoughts for the future of the frozen and canned food group.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
5 November 2012
Following the news last week that Premier plc sold its sweet pickles and table sauces business to Mizkan, just-food caught up with the Japanese firm's Euro-Americas president Craig Smith to discuss its plans for the brand. Elsewhere, word reached UK shores of the devastation Hurricane Sandy has left on the east cost of the US. Mondelez revealed an R&D site in New Jersey was still closed yesterday in the wake of the super storm. Elsewhere, the debate over the implementation of fat taxes continued.
MEXICO: Bimbo profits slump on pension, M&A costs
30 October 2012
Grupo Bimbo saw its third-quarter earnings tumble 82% after it incurred a jump in pension costs and charges from the integration of the Sara Lee business the bakery giant acquired in North America.
US: Flowers acquires Sara Lee, Earthgrains assets in California
29 October 2012
Flowers Foods has acquired the licence to the Earthgrains and Sara Lee brands in California from Grupo Bimbo.
BELGIUM: Sara Lee exec Vaesen named PinguinLutosa CEO
10 October 2012
Former Sara Lee executive Marleen Vaesen will become chief executive of Belgium-based produce group PinguinLutosa.
US: Hillshire reveals details of three-year plan
6 September 2012
Hillshire Brands has outlined further details of the its three-year "strategic plan" for generating profitable growth following its spin-off from Sara Lee earlier this year.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
3 September 2012
The future direction of Carrefour was in the spotlight this week as the market waited to hear what CEO Georges Plassat had in mind for the retailer. Plassat outlined his plans but there was frustration he did provide more financial details. The retail sector dominated our coverage this week, with news Tesco plans to close stores in China, an interview with Russian retail giant Magnit and speculation Marks and Spencer could be on the radar of private-equity firms.
US: Hillshire Brands adds to Sara Lee cake range
31 August 2012
Hillshire Brands has added a Lemon Pound Cake to its Sara Lee brand, as well as making the label's signature Butter Pound Cake more moist.
US: Ex-Sara Lee exec in Shearer's Foods buy-out
30 August 2012
Private-equity firm Wind Point Partners has snapped up US snacks group Shearer's Foods in a takeover backed by former Sara Lee executive C.J. Fraleigh.
On the money: Hillshire innovation key to offset rising costs
10 August 2012
Hillshire Brands has said the expectation of rising commodity costs has placed more importance on innovation and brand building at the US meats firm.
US: Hillshire income drops, forecasts flat FY sales
9 August 2012
Hillshire Brands has forecast flat sales for the new fiscal year and operating segment to be "flat to down" as it booked a drop in full-year operating income.
Comment: Unilever continues pruning food business
31 July 2012
Unilever's latest disposal of food assets is just another sign the consumer goods giant is focusing more on its faster-growing home and personal care businesses.
MEXICO: US hits Bimbo H1 profits
26 July 2012
A drop in profits from its US operations has hit half-year profits at Mexican bakery giant Grupo Bimbo.
Deal or no deal: Hillshire Brands lists... and is in play
29 June 2012
Shares in Hillshire Brands, formerly part of Sara Lee, rose today (29 June) as the pure-play US meat company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Michelle Russell takes a look at what lies ahead for the firm as analysts suggest it may become a takeover target.
