As America's Love for the Grill Grows, Sara Lee Adds New Bun to Its Bread Basket

As Memorial Day weekend approaches, more Americans than ever before will be firing up the grill according to Sara Lee North America, the makers of the best-selling hot dog and hamburger buns in the country. More than 80 percent of American households now own a grill (up from 71 percent in 2003), according to NPD Group data. The overwhelming majority of Americans – more than three quarters – are GRILLING hamburgers and hot dogs. To help feed this growing demand, Sara Lee Fresh Bakery is tossing a new bun on the grill right before the biggest-selling bun weekend of the year. The company, which sold 6.4 million packages of buns for Memorial Day Weekend 2007 according to Information Resources, Inc., is expanding its successful Soft & Smooth™ bread line to include new Sara Lee Soft & Smooth Wheat Hot Dog and Hamburger Buns made with Whole Grain. Debuting in stores today, the buns feature the hallmarks of the Soft & Smooth line – soft texture, great taste and some whole grain nutrition. These buns offer: A blend of enriched (76%) and whole-grain (24%) flour 6 grams of whole grain per serving (health professionals recommend most Americans consume 48 grams, or three servings, of whole grain per day) Good source of calcium and vitamin D No artificial colors or flavors, and 0 grams trans fat Eight-count, 12-ounce package "While more Americans are turning to grilling as a quick and easy way to get a family meal on the table, we’re finding that they are also looking for more choices in buns to go with those hot dogs and hamburgers,” said Tim Zimmer, vice president, Sara Lee Fresh Bakery. "Our sales statistics show that the popularity of wheat buns is increasing, and our new Soft & Smooth Wheat made with Whole Grain buns give families another bun choice to make the summer grilling season more delicious and nutritious.” Fun Bun Facts* More than half of the total bun sales occur between the months of April through September. More than 17 million packages of Sara Lee Soft & Smooth buns (about 137 million buns) were sold in 2007 – enough to feed a hamburger or hot dog to about half the United States population. Hamburgers versus hot dogs? Hot dogs seem to have a clear advantage with 9.78 million packages of Sara Lee Soft & Smooth hot dog buns sold in 2007 compared to 7.3 million packages of hamburger buns. When lined up end to end, the 78.2 million Sara Lee hot dog buns sold in 2007 would stretch across 7,400 miles or across the United States twice. Bun Tips and Tricks To get consumers prepared for all those dogs and burgers and the kickoff of backyard barbecue festivities Sara Lee chef, Jill Houk, is offering tips for making the most out of grilling get-togethers. "My first note of advice is to make things as easy as possible by preparing some food in advance so you aren’t slaving away in the kitchen and not enjoying your party and guests,” explained Houk. "A few days before, prepare foods that will stay fresh in the refrigerator like potato salad, coleslaw and cut vegetables. Then the day of the event you can focus on more immediate cooking needs like grilling your hot dogs and hamburgers.” Houk’s bun-preparing suggestions: Give buns a little squeeze – Before buying buns, test for soft texture by tapping the underside of the bun or lightly squeezing it. Treat your guests to a warm bun – Sara Lee statistics show that most people serve buns straight out of the bag, but adding a little heat by grilling or steaming can add more taste. Avoid soggy buns Place a slice of cheese or a leaf of lettuce on both the top and bottom of your burger to help prevent the bun from soaking up any juices. Place all food items in separate bowls or plates on the serving table. Do not assemble the bun with vegetables and condiments until ready to eat. About Sara Lee Corp. 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 $12 billion in annual net sales covering approximately 200 countries. The Sara Lee community consists of 52,000 employees worldwide. Please visit www.saralee.com for the latest news and in-depth information about Sara Lee and its brands. * Sales data courtesy of Information Resources, Inc.