Sara Lee is in talks with potential buyers for its French baked goods unit, the company said today (31 October).

A spokesman for Sara Lee’s international operations confirmed there is “interest” but did not comment on the identity of potential buyers or the unit’s value.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

He said: “The unit is indeed in the process of being divested, but by policy we do not comment on the specifics. We do have interest but that is as far as we can go.”

The sale of the French operation, called Eurodough, is part of the company’s wider divestment of its international bakery units. Earlier this month it completed the sale of its fresh bakery business in Spain and Portugal to Mexican food giant Grupo Bimbo.

The Chicago Tribune, quoting sources, has linked private-equity firms Trilantic Capital Partners and Sagard with the unit, which has been valued at between EUR100m (US$140m) and EUR150m.

Trilantic and Sagard could not be reached for comment at time of writing.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Eurodough produces ready-to-cook pastry products and has three production sites in France.

In January, Sara Lee announced the company would split into two – a North American grocery retail and foodservice business and an international beverage maker.

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact