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In 1942, Cummings acquired national packaged goods distributor Sprague, Warner & Company. He renamed the corporation Sprague Warner - Kenny Corporation, moved the headquarters to Chicago, and began an aggressive expansion plan that set the tone for the next half-century. Cummings subsequently made many key acquisitions, including Reid, Murdoch and Company and its nationally known Monarch brand. Our second name change - in 1945 to Consolidated Grocers Corporation - reflected this new growth initiative. The following year, Consolidated Grocers became a New York Stock Exchange listed corporation. By 1953, sales had swelled to over $200 million. The corporation was substantially diversified among food processing, packaging and distribution companies - and to emphasize this trend, our third name change took place. Then we became Consolidated Foods Corporation - a name that would serve us well for the next 32 years.

In 1956, we acquired Chicago-based Kitchens of Sara Lee to secure a strong position in frozen baked goods. This was followed by our first foreign investments: Dutch canned goods producer Jonker Fris, plus a Venezuelan sauce and vinegar company. In 1966, our first acquisition of a non-foods company brought Oxford Chemical Corporation - a manufacturer of cleaning products - under the Consolidated Foods banner.

Through the early 1970s, we continued to diversify. Additional food companies were acquired, including Bryan Foods, Hillshire Farm and Rudy's Farm. Consolidated Foods also entered the direct sales, apparel and personal care industries through acquisitions.

John H. Bryan was elected President and a Director of Consolidated Foods in 1974. Chairman of the Board since 1976 and Chief Executive Officer since 1975, Mr. Bryan has overseen both the globalization of the corporation and the development of early diversification initiatives into five distinct lines of business: Sara Lee Foods, Coffee and Tea, Household and Body Care, Foodservice and Branded Apparel.

Mr. Bryan also oversaw our fourth corporate name change in 1985 to Sara Lee Corporation. We had become a global manufacturer and marketer of products from hot dogs to hosiery - with a name that better communicated our consumer marketing orientation and commitment to high-quality brand-name products.

Over the past dozen years, Sara Lee Corporation has continued to aggressively develop each line of business, build brands, and expand into new markets. From cotton T-shirts to kosher meats, from furniture care to body care, strategic acquisitions have fueled the corporation's outstanding growth.

Sara Lee Corporation is a global consumer packaged goods company with more than $20 billion in annual revenues. Sara Lee Corporation has leading positions in packaged meats, frozen baked goods, shoe care, coffee, hosiery, underwear, fleecewear and bras. Sara Lee Corporation has approximately 139,000 employees, maintains operations in more than 40 countries and markets a wide range of products in more than 140 nations under leading brand names, including Sara Lee, Douwe Egberts, Hillshire Farm, Hanes, Coach and Playtex.