Who Owns Sara Lee?
The Sara Lee brand is split across three owners. Sara Lee Frozen Bakery is owned by private equity firm Kohlberg & Company, which acquired the business from Tyson Foods in 2018. Sara Lee deli meats are owned by Tyson Foods, acquired through the $8.55 billion Hillshire Brands deal in 2014. Sara Lee fresh bakery products are owned by Bimbo Bakeries USA, part of Grupo Bimbo. The brand was founded in 1939 by Charles Lubin in Chicago.
Parent Company
Acquired
2018
Status
Private
Headquarters
Sara Lee Timeline
Who Owns Sara Lee?
- Parent Company: Kohlberg & Company
- Ownership Type: Split ownership
- Acquisition Year: 2018
- Company Type: Privately Held
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Sara Lee | Kohlberg & Company | Split ownership |
Where to Buy
Disclosure: We may earn commission from purchases
Sara Lee on AmazonHistory of Sara Lee
- Founded: 1939
- Founders: Charles Lubin
- Acquired by Kohlberg & Company: 2018
Sara Lee was founded in 1939 when Charles Lubin, a bakery owner in Chicago, named a cheesecake after his daughter, Sara Lee Lubin. Lubin's company, Kitchens of Sara Lee, grew through the 1940s and 1950s as a regional bakery known for its cheesecakes, pound cakes, and frozen desserts.
In 1956, Consolidated Foods Corporation acquired Kitchens of Sara Lee. Consolidated Foods was a diversified food and consumer products company that grew through acquisitions. In 1985, Consolidated Foods renamed itself Sara Lee Corporation, reflecting the brand's prominence in its portfolio.
Sara Lee Corporation built a diverse consumer goods empire that included Jimmy Dean, Ball Park, Hillshire Farm, Kiwi shoe polish, Playtex, and Hanes apparel. The company operated in over 40 countries. By the 2000s, Sara Lee Corporation had become a sprawling conglomerate, and management began divesting non-food businesses to focus on food and beverages.
In 2012, Sara Lee Corporation separated into two independent companies. Hillshire Brands took the North American packaged foods business, including Sara Lee deli meats, Jimmy Dean, Ball Park, and Hillshire Farm. D.E. Master Blenders 1753 took the international coffee and tea business, including Douwe Egberts and Senseo.
The Sara Lee bakery business was split further. Sara Lee Corporation sold its North American Fresh Bakery business to Bimbo Bakeries USA in 2010 for approximately $954 million. The frozen bakery business remained with Hillshire Brands and then passed to Tyson Foods when Tyson acquired Hillshire in 2014 for $8.55 billion.
In June 2018, Tyson Foods sold its frozen bakery business, including the Sara Lee frozen bakery brand, to Kohlberg & Company. The new company, Sara Lee Frozen Bakery, began independent operations on July 30, 2018, headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. Since then, the company has acquired Superior Cake Products (2019) and Cyrus O'Leary's Pies (2020), expanding its portfolio.
In 2026, Sara Lee celebrated its 85th birthday. CEO Peter Laport, who succeeded Craig Bahner, leads the company with a focus on operational excellence, customer partnerships, and product innovation.
About Kohlberg & Company
Who owns Kohlberg & Company?
Kohlberg & Company is a privately held partnership. The firm was founded by Jerome Kohlberg Jr. and his son James Kohlberg in 1987. James A. Kohlberg currently serves as Chairman. In March 2018, Blackstone acquired a minority equity interest in the firm, but Kohlberg remains independently managed. The firm's ownership structure is not publicly detailed, and specific equity percentages among partners have not been disclosed.
Does Kohlberg & Company own Sara Lee?
Kohlberg & Company owns Sara Lee Frozen Bakery, which it acquired from Tyson Foods in June 2018 in partnership with Entrepreneurial Equity Partners. The acquisition included the Sara Lee, Van's, Chef Pierre, and Bistro Collection brands for frozen bakery products. Grupo Bimbo's subsidiary, Bimbo Bakeries USA, owns the Sara Lee brand rights for fresh bakery products, having acquired Sara Lee Corporation's North American Fresh Bakery business in 2010 for $959 million. The Sara Lee brand is therefore split between two owners.
How much money does Kohlberg & Company manage?
Kohlberg & Company manages approximately $17 billion in assets as of December 31, 2025, according to the firm's own disclosures. The firm reports $17.1 billion in regulatory assets under management to the SEC across 37 private funds. Kohlberg has organized 11 private equity vehicles totaling over $14 billion in committed equity capital since its founding in 1987.
What is Kohlberg & Company's largest fund?
Kohlberg's largest fund is Kohlberg Investors X, which closed in September 2024 with $4.3 billion in commitments. The firm also raised approximately $1 billion in dedicated co-investment vehicles alongside Fund X. Over 125 limited partners participated, including public pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, endowments, and family offices from the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The previous fund, Kohlberg Investors IX, closed in February 2021 with $3.4 billion.
What companies does Kohlberg & Company own?
Kohlberg's current portfolio includes 29 companies across healthcare, infrastructure services, business services, and food sectors. Notable current holdings include Sara Lee Frozen Bakery, CLEAResult (energy efficiency services), PCI Pharma Services (pharmaceutical manufacturing), Parts Authority (automotive parts), Engage PEO (HR services), OB Hospitalist Group, Nelipak (medical packaging), and Riveron (financial advisory). The firm has completed 95 platform investments and over 290 add-on acquisitions since 1987.
How is Kohlberg & Company related to KKR?
Kohlberg & Company was founded by Jerome Kohlberg Jr., who also co-founded KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) with Henry Kravis and George Roberts in 1976. Kohlberg Jr. left KKR in 1987 over disagreements about strategy, specifically opposing the large, highly leveraged transactions and hostile takeovers that KKR was pursuing. He formed Kohlberg & Company with his son James to focus on smaller middle-market transactions using moderate leverage. The two firms are separate entities with no ownership relationship.
What was Kohlberg's biggest exit?
Kohlberg's largest reported exit was the January 2026 sale of ENTRUST Solutions Group to Leidos (NYSE: LDOS) for approximately $2.4 billion. Kohlberg had acquired ENTRUST, a utility engineering services company, in 2019 and completed a minority recapitalization in 2023 before the full sale. The deal was expected to close in the second quarter of 2026. Other notable exits include the sale of Van's Foods to Cal-Maine Foods in May 2026 and the sale of DecoPac to Sentinel Capital Partners in July 2026.
Is Kohlberg & Company a public company?
No. Kohlberg & Company is a privately held partnership. It is not listed on any stock exchange and does not have publicly traded shares. The firm is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser, which requires regulatory filings and disclosures to limited partners, but does not involve public market reporting obligations. Blackstone acquired a minority equity interest in the firm in 2018, but this did not change the firm's private status.
- Founded: 1987
- Headquarters: Mount Kisco, New York, USA
- Company Type: Privately Held
- Revenue: Not publicly disclosed (AUM approximately $17 billion as of December 2025)
- Employees: Approximately 90
Where Is Sara Lee Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, USA
- Manufacturing / Operations: United States
Sara Lee Categories & Tags
Sara Lee Sustainability & Ethics
Sara Lee Frozen Bakery states that it uses carefully sourced ingredients and time-honored recipes. The company operates production facilities in Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, and Washington, subject to FDA and USDA food safety regulations.
No independently verified sustainability certifications specific to Sara Lee Frozen Bakery have been publicly documented. The company does not publish a standalone ESG report or sustainability report.
Tyson Foods, which owns the Sara Lee deli brand, has published sustainability goals including reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving animal welfare. Bimbo Bakeries USA, which owns the fresh bakery brand, has committed to renewable energy and waste reduction targets as part of Grupo Bimbo's global sustainability strategy.
Awards & Recognition
No independently verified awards specific to the Sara Lee brand have been publicly documented in recent years. The brand's recognition is based on its 85-year heritage and consumer awareness rather than industry awards.
Sara Lee Recalls & Controversies
No major product recalls or controversies specific to the Sara Lee Frozen Bakery brand under Kohlberg & Company ownership have been publicly reported.
Tyson Foods, which owns the Sara Lee deli brand, has faced recalls of various meat products over the years, though no Sara Lee-branded deli meat recalls have been widely reported in recent years.
In 2024, Boar's Head, a competitor in the deli meats category, faced a major listeria recall at its Virginia plant. This recall did not involve Sara Lee products but highlighted food safety risks in the deli meats industry.
Sara Lee Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +85-year brand heritage with strong consumer recognition in the United States
- +Frozen bakery business operates independently under focused management since 2018
- +Diversified product portfolio across desserts, pies, cakes, and breakfast items
- +Multiple production facilities providing geographic coverage
- +Kohlberg & Company has experience in corporate carve-outs and building independent companies
- +Deli meats benefit from Tyson Foods' distribution scale and retail relationships
Considerations
- -Brand is split across three owners, creating potential consumer confusion
- -Frozen bakery is privately held with no public financial disclosure
- -Private equity ownership may lead to future sale or restructuring
- -Deli meats face competition from Boar's Head, Oscar Mayer, and private label brands
- -Frozen bakery competes against larger food companies with greater resources
- -Brand awareness has declined since the Sara Lee Corporation breakup
Frequently Asked Questions About Sara Lee
Sources & Further Reading
- Sara Lee Frozen Bakery Official Website
- Kohlberg & Company: Sara Lee Acquisition
- Food Business News: New CEO Joins Sara Lee Frozen Bakery
- Mergr: Sara Lee Frozen Bakery Profile
- PitchBook: Sara Lee Frozen Bakery
- Sara Lee Deli (Tyson Foods)
- Tyson Foods Investor Relations
- Bimbo Bakeries USA
- Wikipedia: Sara Lee Corporation
Competitors to Sara Lee
No direct competitors found in the same category. This could be because Sara Leeoperates in a unique market segment or we're still building our competitor database.
Independent Alternatives to Sara Lee
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Kohlberg & Company, giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Food BeverageHelloFresh
Owned by HelloFresh SE
German meal kit delivery company providing pre-portioned ingredients and recipes for home cooking, publicly traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
meal-kitfood-deliveryconvenience-food
Publicly Traded
HelloFresh operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Food BeverageLavazza
Owned by Lavazza Group
Italian premium coffee brand and one of the world's largest coffee roasters, family-owned since 1895, selling products in over 140 countries with annual revenue of EUR 3.9 billion in 2025.
coffeeespressopremium
Privately Owned
Lavazza operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Food BeverageRed Bull
Owned by Red Bull
Austrian energy drink brand and the world's best-selling energy drink by volume, owned by Red Bull GmbH, a privately held company controlled by the Yoovidhya family and the estate of Dietrich Mateschitz.
energy-drinkbeveragesports-marketing
Privately Owned
Red Bull operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Food BeverageSchweppes
Owned by Keurig Dr Pepper
One of the world's oldest beverage brands, founded in 1783 by Jacob Schweppe in Geneva. Schweppes is split across four owners: Keurig Dr Pepper (North America), The Coca-Cola Company (UK and approximately 150 countries), Suntory (22 European countries), and Asahi Group Holdings (Australia and New Zealand).
tonic-waterginger-alecarbonated-mixers
Publicly Traded
Schweppes is owned by Keurig Dr Pepper, a public company, a different structure than Sara Lee's parent.
Food BeverageBall Park
Owned by Tyson Foods, Inc.
American hot dog and frank brand founded in 1957 in Detroit, Michigan. Owned by Tyson Foods, Inc. and one of the best-selling hot dog brands in the United States.
hot-dogsfranksamerican-food
Publicly Traded
Ball Park is owned by Tyson Foods, Inc., a public company, a different structure than Sara Lee's parent.
Food BeverageJimmy Dean
Owned by Tyson Foods, Inc.
American breakfast sausage and frozen foods brand founded in 1969 by country music artist Jimmy Dean. Now owned by Tyson Foods.
breakfast-foodsausagefrozen-food
Publicly Traded
Jimmy Dean is owned by Tyson Foods, Inc., a public company, a different structure than Sara Lee's parent.
Jobs at Kohlberg & Company
Latest News About Sara Lee
Related Articles About Sara Lee
View more articles
Company History
The Tyson Foods Acquisition History
From a single truck selling chickens in Arkansas in 1935 to the largest meat company in the United States. How Tyson Foods built a $52 billion empire through decades of acquisitions.
Who Brands StaffMar 31, 2026
Tyson FoodsCompany HistoryAcquisitions
Entertainment
Toy Brand Ownership: From LEGO to Hasbro
LEGO is family-owned by the Kirk Kristiansens. Hasbro and Mattel are Wall Street-owned. Bandai Namco owns Tamagotchi. Discover who owns the biggest toy brands and why it matters. Explore our database.
Who Brands StaffSep 4, 2026
ToysLegoHasbro
Pop Culture
Video Game Brands and Their Corporate Parents
EA sold for $55B to Saudi Arabia's PIF, Silver Lake and Kushner's Affinity. Microsoft bought Activision Blizzard for $75.4B. Tencent owns Riot, Supercell, and stakes in Epic. Sony bought Bungie for $3.6B. Discover video game brands and their corporate parents.
Who Brands StaffSep 3, 2026
Video GamesAcquisitionsEa
People Also Searched
Discover popular brands and companies in the Food & Beverage category and related searches from other users.
Brandsoft-drink
7 Up
American lemon-lime flavored carbonated soft drink brand known for its crisp, clean taste and caffeine-free formula.
Brand in Food & Beverage
lemon-limecaffeine-free
Brandprobiotic
Activia
Probiotic yogurt brand owned by Danone SA, sold in more than 70 countries. Activia is positioned as a digestive health product and is one of Danone's highest-revenue dairy brands globally.
Brand in Food & Beverage
yogurtdigestive-health
Brandchocolate
Aero
British chocolate brand known for its distinctive aerated, bubbly texture, produced and distributed by Nestle and sold primarily in the United Kingdom, Canada, and select international markets.
Brand in Food & Beverage
confectionerysnacks