After two years since its sale by McCain Foods, the Sara Lee business in Australia and New Zealand has gone into administration. FTI Consulting was appointed as the administrator and will oversee the restructuring and sale process. Sara Lee, based in New South Wales, has been supplying frozen desserts in Australia since 1971, including cheesecakes, pies, crumbles, and ice cream. The business also has rights to market its products in New Zealand, South-east Asia, and the Middle East. FTI aims to secure the future of the business and continue its manufacturing operations in Australia. The company employs approximately 200 staff members.
In 2021, McCain Foods sold the Sara Lee Australia and New Zealand operations to South Island Office, an investor based in Christchurch. McCain Foods had acquired the business in 2012 from Hillshire Brands Co, which was later bought by Tyson Foods in 2014. Sara Lee’s assets in the US were then sold to Kohlberg & Company in 2018.
