Bakery products
Sara Lee Corporation was renamed Hillshire Brands Company after spinning off its international coffee and tea business in June 2012. Sara Lee Australia's coffee and tea operations are now part of JDE Peet's. Hillshire Brands sold its Australian bakery unit, Kitchens of Sara Lee, to McCain Australia in Feb 2013, who sold it to New Zealand investment house South Island Office in 2021. Sara Lee Australia went into administration in October 2023, and was bought by the Quinn family in 2024, saving 200 jobs.
Company Ownership
Sara Lee Holdings Pty Ltd
AUS
Quinn Foods Pty Ltd
owns 100% of Sara Lee Holdings Pty Ltd
AUS
Pet food, confectionery & frozen desserts
Owned by the Quinn family, who previously owned VIP Petfoods and Darrell Lea before selling them both to Quadrant Private Equity in 2015 and 2018 respectively. The Quinns also own a string of businesses in Australia and New Zealand, including motor racing complexes, and Sara Lee Australia, which they rescued from administration in 2024.
Company Assessment
(Last updated Jun 2024)
Praise
Criticism
Information
Sara Lee Holdings Pty Ltd
Praise
Criticism
Information
3/5 for packaging performance
This company received a packaging performance level of 3 (Advanced) in its 2024 APCO Annual Report. Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is a not-for-profit organisation leading the development of a circular economy for packaging in Australia. Each year, APCO Members are required to submit an APCO Annual Report and Action Plan, which includes an overall performance level from 1 (Getting Started) to 5 (Beyond Best Practice).
Source: APCO
(2024)
Palm oil rating - WAZA
The PalmOil Scan app, produced by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), rates companies on their commitment to sourcing sustainable palm oil. Companies are scored on their use of certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO), commitment to sourcing CSPO, on-the-ground conservation action, and membership to the RSPO. Companies can earn a rating of Excellent, Good, Poor or No Commitment. This company is rated "Poor" (retrieved 18 Nov 2023).
Source: WAZA
(2023)
Quinn Foods Pty Ltd
Praise
Criticism
Information
Employment dispute
Six Darrell Lea workers faced losing $400,000 in redundancy entitlements after a shell company employing them (owned by Sinclair Quinn) was put into liquidation. The Darrell Lea business initially indicated that they will not be paying the redundancies that the Fair Work Commission had ordered, but later relented following protests organised by the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union.
Source: news article
(2015)
Company Details
Type:
Wholly-owned subsidiary
Employees:
200
(2023)
Contact Details
Address:
88-90 Railway Crescent, Lisarow, NSW, 2250, Australia
Phone:
02 4329 8444
Freecall:
1800 065 056
Website: