Sara Lee's corporate headquarters is moving back to Chicago.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Sara Lee Corporation execs announced Thursday the company's North American Meat Division will relocate to 400 S. Jefferson in the city's West Loop neighborhood in 2013. With the move comes an anticipated 550 new jobs and the potential for as many as 650.
"I'm so proud Sara Lee is back home," said Emanuel during the announcement.
The company will get between $5 million and $6.5 million in funds from a tax-increment financing district based on the number of jobs created, Emanuel said. It's the first of the job expansions to get TIF funds.
Sara Lee announced earlier this year that it would split into two companies -- an International Coffee and Tea business and a North American Meats company -- in the first part of 2012.
Chicago's meat division doesn't yet have a name, but Sara Lee chairman Jan Bennink jokes "it won't be Meat Co."
"We want to be here, we want to catch the energetic spirit," Bennink adds.
The new headquarters will be responsible for such brands as Aidells, Ball Park, Hillshire Farm and Jimmy Dean.
