The woman behind one of America’s most recognizable bakery brands turned 85, and the team at Sara Lee Frozen Bakery marked the occasion the way you might expect: with cake.
Sara Lee, the daughter of entrepreneur Charles Lubin, has lent her name to the brand for 77 years. Lubin, widely credited with helping create the frozen bakery category, built what the company describes as America’s first fully automated bakery and named the business after his daughter, insisting that anything carrying her name represent the very best.
Faced with the question of how to bake a birthday cake for the person whose name is itself a bakery brand, the Sara Lee Frozen Bakery team skipped the traditional route. They built a one-of-a-kind tribute from two of the brand’s signature products – its All Butter Pound Cake and its Cheesecake – frosted with the message: “Happy 85th Birthday. Thank you for inspiring generations of Sweet Moments.”
“There are moments that remind you why your work matters, and this was one of them,” said Pete Laport, CEO at Sara Lee Frozen Bakery, who took the helm of the Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois-based company in February.
The celebration arrives as the company enters what leadership has framed as a “new chapter” under Laport, who succeeded Craig Bahner earlier this year.
“Every detail of the cake was intentional because it reflected something bigger than just a cake,” said Johnni Rodgers, chief marketing officer at Sara Lee Frozen Bakery. “This celebration reflected our appreciation for the family behind the brand, our respect for Charles Lubin’s vision and our pride in earning the privilege of representing the Sara Lee name every day.
“It was an honor to celebrate Sara Lee with the best of Sara Lee.”
The team also made a replica cake so associates at the company’s headquarters could share in the celebration.
Sara Lee Frozen Bakery makes frozen bakery and dessert products under brands including Sara Lee, Chef Pierre, Bistro Collection, Superior on Main and Cyrus O’Leary’s.