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ONE of Australia’s most-loved dessert companies has gone into administration after 52 years of business.
The Sara Lee brand – best known for its iconic frozen cheesecakes, pies, crumbles, and ice creams – is a staple in nearly every Aussie kitchen.
Its management yesterday appointed FTI Consulting to either sell or restructure the company, as voluntary administrator.
The business trades as Sara Lee under licence from the global owner of the trademark with rights to operate in Australia, New Zealand, South East Asia, and the Middle East.
Australians have taken to social media to express their shock and disappointment over their favourite brand’s collapse.
One fan wrote: “Sara Lee going into administration just might be the darkest day in Australias history.
“I for one know what I’ll be eating tonight.”
Another called the move “outrageous”, while others said, “Noooooo!!!” and, “That’s hit my core that news..”
Someone else wrote: “NOOOOO SARA LEE MY GIRL MY ONE AND ONLY MY ENDGAME.”
And another: “When Sara Lee is in trouble financially, the economy in Australia is alot worse than we realized.
“Sara Lee has been around for over 50 plus years and survived and makes the best cakes, pies and other desserts.”
The beloved business was established in New South Wales in 1971.
A team of bakers and pastry chefs create the desserts in Sara Lee’s famous bakehouse in Lisarow on the Central Coast then freeze them so they maintain their freshness and flavour.
Administrator Vaughan Strawbridge said: “Sara Lee is an iconic brand which produces quality Australian-made products from its manufacturing facility in Lisarow, NSW, where it employs some 200 staff.
“We are working with Sara Lee’s management team and staff to continue operations while we secure the future of the business.
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“We are immediately commencing a process to sell or restructure the business and continue its long history of manufacturing in Australia.”
Mr Strawbridge noted FTI Consulting expected “a lot” of interest in the business and would be working to provide clarity on its future to its customers and staff as soon as possible.
Sara Lee has a long history of producing desserts using “quality, authentic” ingredients.
Its website read: “From frozen cheesecakes and pies, to crumbles and ice cream, we approach our craft by ensuring we stay true to traditional recipes, but also offering a contemporary twist.
“Our bakers and pastry chefs create delicious desserts and baked goods for Australians and New Zealanders every day, using traditional baker’s flour, real eggs and fresh cream.”
The brand originated in Chicago in the United States when Charles Lubin bought a small chain of neighbourhood bakeries called Community Bake Shops, naming his first product – a cream cheesecake – after his daughter Sara Lee.
Mr Lubin and his brother grew the business from its original three stores to seven before the company expanded to Australia in the early 1970s.
Sara Lee was acquired by McCain Foods in 2013 and it morphed into the dessert giant it is today.
It was taken over by The South Island Office Ltd and merged with The Original Foods Baking Company in 2021.
Meanwhile, international stationery store Paperchase is making a return after closing all 134 shops and concessions earlier this year.
Fans of the retailer were devastated when it fell into administration and disappeared from the high street.
Paperchase has a cult following of people who loved indulging in its brightly coloured quirky notebooks, diaries, cards, and gift wrap.
Last month, it was revealed engineering giant Rolls-Royce would be axing up to 2,500 workers in a bid to become more “streamlined and efficient” under its new boss.
The aircraft engine-maker has 42,000 staff worldwide, with around half of them in England — largely based at its Derby headquarters.
Rolls has 13,700 in Derby, 3,400 in Bristol, and more in smaller bases in Lancashire, Glasgow, Tyne & Wear and Rotherham.
Boss Tufan Erginbilgic did not reveal where the job axe will fall, but reports suggested hundreds of back-office posts will be hit in the UK.
