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Sara Lee Announces Closure of Kosher Hot Dog and Meat ProcessingFacility in Chicago

  //house-home.news-articles.net/content/2008/11/1 .. -dog-and-meat-processingfacility-in-chicago.html
  Published in House and Home on Wednesday, November 19th 2008 at 14:50 GMT by Market Wire

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Sara Lee Corp. (NYSE: SLE) announced that it will close its kosher hot dog and meat processing facility on or before Jan. 30, 2009.

Sara Lee has decided to exit the kosher meat business, and discontinue processing and distributing products made under all of its kosher meat brands, including Best's Kosher, Sinai Kosher, Shofar and Wilno. The closure of the Chicago facility, located at 1000 W. Pershing Road, will result in a workforce reduction of approximately 185 employees. In addition, the company will also close the Sinai Kosher outlet store located on the premises. This action originally was referenced in a Form 8-K filed by the company on July 22, 2008, as the "decision to close a production facility in North America."

"This decision was made after careful consideration of our strategic, long-term plan, which focuses on categories where we have a strategic competitive advantage," said CJ Fraleigh, Sara Lee Corp.'s chief operating officer, North America. "We value the contributions made by our employees and are working to help them prepare for the future by providing severance and outplacement assistance."

Following the discontinuation of operations at the Chicago facility, Sara Lee Corp. intends to decommission the plant's equipment and place the facility and property up for sale.

About Sara Lee Corporation

Each and every day, Sara Lee (NYSE: SLE) delights millions of consumers and customers around the world. The company has one of the world's best-loved and leading portfolios with its innovative and trusted food, beverage, household and body care brands, including Ambi Pur, Ball Park, Douwe Egberts, Hillshire Farm, Jimmy Dean, Kiwi, Sanex, Sara Lee and Senseo. Collectively, these brands generate more than $13 billion in annual net sales covering approximately 200 countries. The Sara Lee community consists of 44,000 employees worldwide. Please visit [ www.saralee.com ] for the latest news and in-depth information about Sara Lee and its brands.