Sara Lee Frozen Bakery has announced the appointment of Peter Laport as the new CEO, marking a significant step in the private-equity-backed group’s strategy for its “next phase of growth.”
On February 23, the U.S. company revealed this leadership transition, emphasizing Laport’s extensive experience—over 30 years—in managing consumer and food businesses across North America and international markets.
Laport replaces Craig Bahner, who has led the Illinois-based firm since 2018, following its acquisition by Kohlberg & Company from meat industry giant Tyson Foods. This acquisition included well-known brands such as Sara Lee, Van’s, Chef Pierre, and Bistro Collection.
Gus Harwood, a partner at Kohlberg & Company, remarked that “Peter brings a rare combination of enterprise leadership, operational discipline, and a people-centered approach to Sara Lee Frozen Bakery.” He further noted that Laport’s capability to align strategy, teams, and execution positions him perfectly to lead the company into this exciting next chapter.
Before this role, Laport served as CEO of Arctic Glacier Premium Ice, a supplier of packaged, block, and crushed ice, which was recently sold by Carlyle to Reddy Ice for an undisclosed amount. Reddy Ice is backed by SCI Capital Partners.
Laport’s impressive career also features senior positions at UK-based Bakkavor’s U.S. operations, Ready Pac Foods/Bonduelle Fresh Americas, Dunkin’ Brands, Revlon, and Nestlé. He emphasized the importance of foundational principles in a recent LinkedIn post: “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 high-quality baked goods and desserts to foodservice clients, restaurants, grocery retailers, and in-store bakeries. Following a restructuring in 2012, the original Sara Lee Corporation split into two publicly traded entities: Hillshire Brands and DE Master Blenders 1753. The Sara Lee frozen dessert brand fell under Hillshire Brands, which Tyson Foods acquired in 2014. Four years later, the brand relaunched as an independent entity after its sale to Kohlberg & Company.
Commenting on Laport’s appointment, Gus Harwood noted, “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 endeavors.”
As the food and beverage industry continues to evolve, industry leaders like Laport will play a crucial role in navigating emerging trends and consumer demands in the food and drink business. Staying ahead of food and drink consumer trends will be vital for maintaining competitive advantage in the market.
In summary, the leadership change at Sara Lee marks an important moment in the company’s journey, emphasizing the integration of strategic vision, operational excellence, and a people-first approach to drive future success.
