Sara Lee plans split into 2 companies

1/28/2011

NEW YORK — Sara Lee Corp. plans to split into two public companies focusing on North American meats and international coffee, a move that eventually could make it easier for suitors to buy the parts.

The plan was announced Friday, after takeover bids Sara Lee received were not enough to entice it to sell the company as a whole.

The firm said the split should be completed early in 2012.