On May 23, 2018, we published revised versions of our Privacy Policy and User Agreements. Please read these updated terms and take some time to understand them. Your use of our services is subject to these revised terms.
Yes, I Agree.

Brenda Barnes – Sara Lee (SLE)

CEO

At 53, Brenda Barnes is back and in full swing. Ten years ago, her 1997 resignation as Head of Pepsico’s North American Beverage business to spend more time with her family caused a huge debate at the time for women in business. Many felt Brenda had let down their gender by opting out of the executive office. Some speculated she left to protest her husband Randy Barnes’ stalled career as Senior VP and Treasurer at Pepsico. Brenda insisted the resignation was about parenthood.

Nevertheless, when Brenda left, it caused women in executive ranks around the US to take notice, but most just went about life as usual. As did Brenda. Within two years, she was back acting as interim chief operating officer of Starwood Hotels and Resorts. She also sat on seven corporate boards of directors, and continued her influence on boards during her so-called hiatus.

Barnes was one of seven daughters in a blue collar family where her mother died of cancer and her father, a maintenance worker for International Harvester, died from complications of diabetes. She graduated in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Augustana College. Brenda went on to obtain her MBA from Loyola University Chicago in 1978. She was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Augustana in 1997. Once her 3 children Jeff, Brian and Erin were in high school and college, Brenda returned her focus to full time work taking the job of President at Sara Lee in 2004.

Company Overview
Sara Lee Corp. CEO Brenda Barnes is hunting for acquisitions, and Interstate Bakeries Corp., the maker of Wonder, as well as Hostess cupcakes and Twinkies could be a fix for her sagging bread business.

Ms. Barnes proved she can cut costs, sell underperforming businesses and begin the recovery of an ailing food and consumer products maker. But after 2½ years, she has yet to produce the blockbuster products investors expected from the former PepsiCo Inc. marketing whiz. New Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwiches, wheat bread that tastes like white bread and European air fresheners haven’t satisfied shareholders’ craving for faster sales growth.

Current Season
Excluding divested lines such as Hanes, Sara Lee’s sales rose 7% to $12.3 billion in its fiscal year ended June 30. Net income was $504 million, or 68 cents a share. For fiscal 2008, the company has projected profit as high as $1.01 a share. Its operating profit margin was 7%, well short of Ms. Barnes’ long-term goal of 12%. New products will play a key role in reaching profit goals.

“Where is the growth going to come from?” asks Gregg Warren, an analyst in Chicago with Morningstar Inc. “That is an awful lot of new products.”

Sales of new Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwiches and skillets helped the frozen breakfast category rise 30% in the last three months. J. P. Morgan Securities Inc. estimates the category accounts for 5% of Sara Lee’s U.S. retail sales, which were $4.6 billion in 2007. Sara Lee hasn’t been very good at innovating in the last 10 years, but Ms. Barnes has made it a higher priority for the company, says Ken Harris, a managing director with Evanston consultancy Cannondale Associates.

“It takes about two years to get the innovation pipeline robust, and it’s appropriate now to expect them to provide a glimpse into new products,” Mr. Harris says.

Recent News
In recent news, Sara Lee announced that Peggy M. Foran would become executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. Foran had previously been with Pfizer. Barnes commented, “She is recognized worldwide as a true leader with a reputation for the highest levels of personal integrity.”

Let us hear your thoughts: Women of QualityStocks Message Board

Archives

Select A Month
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007
  • July 2007
  • June 2007
  • May 2007
  • April 2007
  • March 2007
  • February 2007
  • January 2007
  • December 2006
  • November 2006
  • October 2006
  • September 2006
  • August 2006
  • July 2006
  • June 2006
  • May 2006
  • April 2006
  • March 2006
  • January 2006
  • December 2005
  • October 2005
  • September 2005
  • Market Basics

    New to the micro-cap markets?Get answers to your questions about investing in Small-Cap / Micro-Cap Stocks and learn how to protect yourself.

    The Basics

    Newsletter Publishers

    Have an up and coming newsletter and want to be included in our coverage list? Looking to get more coverage and grow subscriptions? Register for coverage.

    Register

    Public Companies

    Are you a Small-Cap / Micro-Cap company looking for coverage? We'd love to hear from you. Fill out our quick contact form or send us a text.

    Get Covered