Beloved dessert brand remains Aussie-owned thanks to this power couple’s acquisition
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A staple in Australian homes for over 50 years, the iconic Sara Lee Australia dessert brand has created sweet memories for countless families.
Known for its iconic frozen cheesecakes, apple pies and ice cream, this heritage brand recently faced an uncertain future when it went into voluntary administration last October.
But now, it remains in Aussie hands.
The future of Sara Lee’s Australian and New Zealand branch was uncertain—with over 40 parties consisting of local and international trade buyers, local manufacturers, and financial investors considering buying the company—until the Quinns stepped in to save the day.
Sara Lee, which has been a household name since 1971, is now in the hands of a private company owned by Klark and Brooke Quinn, keeping the dessert brand firmly locally owned.
'We are a small Aussie family that shared in the tradition of having Sara Lee Apple Pie and vanilla [ice cream] every Sunday night at the dinner table and could not be more proud to put the [Aussie-made] and owned stamp on the Sara Lee brand,' the Quinns said in a statement.
Administrator Vaughan Strawbridge expressed his gratitude to the workforce and management team who have continued to work during this challenging time.
'Staff and consumers have rallied behind the business during this tough time, and we are so grateful to the loyal workforce and management team who have made this process a success while they have continued to produce amazing products,' he said.
'We have enjoyed working with the Sara Lee team and are pleased to see them come through this process. Many staff have been with Sara Lee a long time, and we have seen their passion for the business.'
Meanwhile, the Quinn family is no stranger to the business world.
They are well-known in Australian business circles as pet food tycoons, with Tony and Christina Quinn creating the VIP Petfoods brand nearly three decades ago.
They later sold the business in 2015 for a whopping $410 million.
But their business acumen doesn't stop at pet food.
The senior Quinns purchased Darrell Lea, another iconic Australian confectionery brand, in 2012 when it entered voluntary administration.
They handed control over to their son Klark, known for his exploits on the GT Championship racetrack, and his partner Brooke.
The couple, Klark and Brooke, spent years at the helm of Darrell Lea, injecting $30 million into the business and establishing a second factory in Ingleburn.
Their dedication to the business was so strong that they moved into the Darrell Lea factory for a year in 2014, working up to 16 hours a day to reverse its fortune.
They then sold the brand to Quadrant Private Equity for about $200 million in 2018.
The sale of Sara Lee to the Quinns is a significant win for the brand's over 200 employees and its loyal customer base.
What is your favourite Sara Lee dessert and recipe? Share your them with us in the comments below!
Known for its iconic frozen cheesecakes, apple pies and ice cream, this heritage brand recently faced an uncertain future when it went into voluntary administration last October.
But now, it remains in Aussie hands.
The future of Sara Lee’s Australian and New Zealand branch was uncertain—with over 40 parties consisting of local and international trade buyers, local manufacturers, and financial investors considering buying the company—until the Quinns stepped in to save the day.
Sara Lee, which has been a household name since 1971, is now in the hands of a private company owned by Klark and Brooke Quinn, keeping the dessert brand firmly locally owned.
'We are a small Aussie family that shared in the tradition of having Sara Lee Apple Pie and vanilla [ice cream] every Sunday night at the dinner table and could not be more proud to put the [Aussie-made] and owned stamp on the Sara Lee brand,' the Quinns said in a statement.
Sara Lee Australia has been acquired by a private company owned by Klark and Brooke Quinn. Image source: Instagram/@saraleeau.
Administrator Vaughan Strawbridge expressed his gratitude to the workforce and management team who have continued to work during this challenging time.
'Staff and consumers have rallied behind the business during this tough time, and we are so grateful to the loyal workforce and management team who have made this process a success while they have continued to produce amazing products,' he said.
'We have enjoyed working with the Sara Lee team and are pleased to see them come through this process. Many staff have been with Sara Lee a long time, and we have seen their passion for the business.'
Meanwhile, the Quinn family is no stranger to the business world.
They are well-known in Australian business circles as pet food tycoons, with Tony and Christina Quinn creating the VIP Petfoods brand nearly three decades ago.
They later sold the business in 2015 for a whopping $410 million.
But their business acumen doesn't stop at pet food.
The senior Quinns purchased Darrell Lea, another iconic Australian confectionery brand, in 2012 when it entered voluntary administration.
They handed control over to their son Klark, known for his exploits on the GT Championship racetrack, and his partner Brooke.
The couple, Klark and Brooke, spent years at the helm of Darrell Lea, injecting $30 million into the business and establishing a second factory in Ingleburn.
Their dedication to the business was so strong that they moved into the Darrell Lea factory for a year in 2014, working up to 16 hours a day to reverse its fortune.
They then sold the brand to Quadrant Private Equity for about $200 million in 2018.
The sale of Sara Lee to the Quinns is a significant win for the brand's over 200 employees and its loyal customer base.
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