Sara Lee Frozen Bakery has appointed Peter Laport as the new CEO of the private-equity-backed group to lead its “next phase of growth”.
The US company announced the leadership change yesterday (23 February), highlighting Laport’s more than 30 years of experience running consumer and food businesses across North America and international markets.
Laport takes over from Craig Bahner, who has led Illinois-based Sara Lee Frozen Bakery since 2018, when private-equity firm Kohlberg & Company acquired the business from meat giant Tyson Foods.
That deal included the Sara Lee, Van’s, Chef Pierre and Bistro Collection brands.
Gus Harwood, partner at Kohlberg & Company, said yesterday: “Peter brings a rare combination of enterprise leadership, operational discipline, and a people-centered approach to Sara Lee Frozen Bakery.
“His ability to align strategy, teams, and execution makes him exceptionally well-suited to spearhead the company’s exciting next chapter.”
Laport was most recently CEO of Arctic Glacier Premium Ice, the supplier of packaged, block and crushed ice. The company was sold by investment firm Carlyle to Reddy Ice last week for an undisclosed sum.
Reddy Ice is backed by SCI Capital Partners.
Laport's career includes senior roles at UK-based Bakkavor's US operation, Ready Pac Foods/Bonduelle Fresh Americas, Dunkin’ Brands, Revlon, and Nestlé.
In a LinkedIn post, Laport said: “Over the past 30 years, I’ve learned that every new beginning brings both responsibility and possibility. No matter the business or the moment, the work always comes back to the same fundamentals: putting people first, building trust, and creating clarity around where we’re going and how we’ll get there.”
Sara Lee Frozen Bakery supplies baked goods and desserts to foodservice customers, restaurants, grocery retailers and in-store bakeries.
Following a restructuring in 2012, the original Sara Lee Corporation was split into two publicly traded entities - Hillshire Brands and DE Master Blenders 1753.
The Sara Lee frozen dessert brand was placed under Hillshire Brands, which Tyson Foods acquired in 2014. Four years later, the brand was relaunched as an independent entity after its sale to Kohlberg & Company.
Commenting on Laport's appointment, Gus Harwood, a partner at Kohlberg, said: “His ability to align strategy, teams, and execution makes him exceptionally well-suited to spearhead the company’s exciting next chapter. We are grateful to Craig for the role he has played in positioning the business for long-term success and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”
