Sara Lee Desserts Business Saved from Administration, Acquired by Private Company

Australian dessert company Sara Lee has been given a lifeline four months after entering administration. The Australian and New Zealand businesses of Sara Lee are set to be sold to a private company owned by Klark and Brooke Quinn. The Quinn family also owns the confectionery maker Darrell Lea. Administrator firm FTI Consulting, led by Vaughan Strawbridge, expressed gratitude towards the staff, suppliers, and customers who have supported Sara Lee throughout the process.

The acquisition includes Sara Lee’s New Zealand business and the rights to market its products in South East Asia and the Middle East. The sale is expected to be completed in the coming weeks, securing the jobs of over 200 staff members.

Klark and Brooke Quinn, in a statement, expressed their pride in acquiring the Sara Lee brand and putting the “Aussie made and owned” stamp on it. The dessert company, established in 1971 in Lisarow, New South Wales, is known for its frozen cheesecakes, pies, crumbles, and ice cream.

FTI Consulting, also appointed as administrators for Darrell Lea in 2012, recognized Sara Lee as an iconic brand and category leader. The Quinn family has a history of successful businesses, including VIP Pet Foods, which was later sold to a consortium of investors led by Temasek Holdings.

This acquisition comes after McCain Foods sold the Sara Lee business in 2021 to South Island Office. McCain Foods had acquired Sara Lee in 2012 from Hillshire Brands Co., which was later bought by Tyson Foods. Kohlberg & Company currently owns the Sara Lee brand in North America.