Our Story

Quality on a first-name basis.

Our founder Charles Lubin named his signature cheesecake after the only person sweet enough to match it: his daughter Sara Lee Lubin. The Sara Lee Cheesecake paved the way for a beloved brand of desserts known nationwide for their quality, freshness, and homespun flavors. Like Sara always said, "it had to be perfect because he was naming it after me."

That standard of perfection has changed the way America enjoys dessert several times over. From pioneering the preparation of fresh-frozen desserts to packaging them in ready-to-use foil baking pans, Sara Lee has brought the joy of fresh, delicious baked goods to American homes for generations.

History

Making life's moments a little sweeter.

From our humble beginnings as a small Chicago bakery to becoming an industry-leading innovator of frozen bakery and desserts, we have never lost sight of our purpose or our values. We believe there is always a better way. We sweat the details, so you don’t have to and keep things simple for you by meticulously crafting irresistible products made from quality ingredients for unmatched flavor and home-made appeal.

Over the years, we’ve expanded our portfolio by acquiring notable brands that share our passion for exceptional bakery and adding innovative offerings including allergen-free and clean label options—all backed by our state-of-the-art Research & Development facility in the Chicago suburb of Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. Sara Lee Frozen Bakery also operates bakeries in Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, and Washington to bring delicious bakery even closer to our valuable customers. Whether you are a retailer, in-store bakery or foodservice venue, our family of brands and full line of bakery and desserts bring indulgent convenience and premium quality to meet your needs and your customer’s love for craveable bakery. For generations, our beloved brands and delightful products have enriched lives and saved time in kitchens so your customers can focus on what truly matters – celebrating life’s special moments and making every one just a little bit sweeter.

Our purpose. Our values.

Great tasting food is our passion. We want each bite to delight and inspire, and we listen attentively to our customers’ wants, needs, and desires, and actively strive to meet them where we can. Our growth and profitability depend on our customers’ growth and profitability. Finding common ground with our customers allows us to create solutions that work.

Above all, integrity comes first. Taking care of our people and our food is our top priority. When we treat each other with dignity and respect, we perform at our best. We acknowledge and value diversity in all its forms to create an inclusive workplace. Truth and transparency lead our way, and we are proud to be stewards of the trust that our customers, consumers, and employees have in us.

Backed by hard-working brands.

With six trusted brands – Sara Lee®, Chef Pierre®, Bistro Collection®, Van’s®, Superior on Main® and Cyrus O'Leary's® – we offer a wide variety of versatile flavors and formats full of delicious goodness. Our portfolio consists of pies, cakes, pastries, cookies, muffins, croissants, waffles and more. We use the finest ingredients and time-honored recipes just like you would in your kitchen.