Press Releases

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sara Lee Corp. (NYSE: SLE) today announced that its presentation at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York's (CAGNY) annual conference will be broadcast live via the Internet at 11:30 a.m. CST on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010.

The live webcast can be accessed at www.saralee.com and will feature presentations by Brenda C. Barnes, chairman and chief executive officer, and Marcel Smits, chief financial officer, Sara Lee Corp. They will provide an update on Sara Lee's business. The webcast is anticipated to conclude by 12:30 p.m. CST.

For people who are unable to listen to the webcast live, a recording will be available two hours following the completion of the presentation in the Investor Relations section of the Sara Lee corporate Web site until Aug. 16, 2010.

About Sara Lee Corporation

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, Senseo and Bimbo. Collectively, these brands generate approximately $13 billion in annual net sales covering nearly 200 countries. The Sara Lee community consists of 41,000 employees worldwide. Please visit www.saralee.com for the latest news and in-depth information about Sara Lee and its brands.

    Source: Sara Lee Corporation

Rapidly Expanding Mid-Sized Independent Public Relations Agency Adds Arizona Business Leader to Accelerate Growth in the Region

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Allison & Partners, one of the nation's fastest growing public relations and public affairs firms, has added strategic marketing and PR expert Cathy Planchard as General Manager of its Phoenix office.

Planchard will accelerate the firm's growth in the region, leveraging her extensive experience in brand building and communications to fortify business development and the management of key accounts. Many Allison & Partners clients are headquartered in Phoenix, including Best Western and SEA LIFE Arizona.

"Cathy knows the Phoenix market intimately and is skilled at building long term partnerships with clients," said Andy Hardie-Brown, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Allison & Partners. "Her experience working with some of the region's leading brands will be valuable as we aggressively build market share in the Southwest. Our goal is for the agency to rank #1 in the region within three years."

Planchard said: "I wanted to join an agency that has a clear vision of the future where my entrepreneurial talents would be embraced enthusiastically. Allison & Partners is dedicated to two things: delivering extraordinary work to its clients and creating an environment where talent can thrive. From opening new offices in Atlanta and Seattle in 2009, winning new high profile clients - and its selection as a finalist for PR WEEK's 2010 PR Agency of the Year - this firm is on a roll."

Planchard's experience includes working with some of the Southwest's leading consumer, hospitality, healthcare and technology companies such as LifeLock, Hilton Resorts, Hilton, Doubletree and Motorola, among others. She is active in the local business community, serving as the Vice President of Communications for the Junior League of Phoenix and as a Board Member of the Phoenix Public Relations Society.

About Allison & Partners

Allison & Partners is a national independent public relations and public affairs firm with practice areas in consumer marketing, corporate communications, social impact, technology, public affairs and healthcare. The firm builds customized programs integrating media relations, social media, cause-related marketing, brand building, customer and internal communications, public affairs and promotional services. Allison & Partners is a member of Pinnacle Worldwide, an international network of independently owned communications firms in major cities around the world.

    Source: Allison & Partners

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Feb. 9, 2010) - On behalf of the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Megantic-L'Erable, today announced the Government of Canada's investment of more than $1 million to support the Montreal High Lights Festival as part of the Marquee Tourism Events Program.

"Today's funding announcement will benefit not only the Montreal High Lights Festival, but also the thousands of businesses that provide services to event attendees," said Minister Paradis. "Through the Government of Canada's Marquee Tourism Events Program, the festival can continue to be instrumental in showcasing Montreal as a premiere international host and a city truly dedicated to making visitors feel welcome."

"We are very glad to count on the financial support of Industry Canada," said Mr. Alain Simard, President, Montreal High Lights Festival. "This funding allows us to set up many of our free activities and supports the launch of the Caliente! concert series and new concepts in the Wine and Dine Experience program. These new additions offer Montrealers and tourists an enhanced festival experience, while raising the international profile of Montreal and Canada during the winter."

The Montreal High Lights Festival is a multidisciplinary event that brings together a diverse array of artistic performers and the digital arts. Programming includes two flagship events: the High Lights Event, a free outdoor production combining multimedia presentations, circus arts and music; and the All-Nighter, which presents some 200 activities, most of them free, during a night of exhibitions, shows and workshops.

Funding from the Marquee Tourism Events Program will enable the festival to add new and enhanced programming, including a series of dining and culinary activities, music and dance performances, pyrotechnics, acrobatics and more. The festival will also increase its marketing and promotional efforts through additional print and online advertising aimed at attracting both domestic and international visitors to Montreal and its surrounding areas.

The Government of Canada's Marquee Tourism Events Program is investing $100 million over two years to assist events such as this one across the country. This program will help organizers expand the reach of their events and promote Canada as a must-see tourist destination to visitors from around the world.

The Marquee Tourism Events Program is one of several tourism-related programs announced in Canada's Economic Action Plan. These programs provide measures to support Canada's economy, stimulate the growth of tourism and contribute to the development of Canada's visitor economy over the long term. They include the following:

--  $150 million over two years for national parks and historic sites; and
--  $40 million over two years to the Canadian Tourism Commission for
    domestic and international marketing.

For more information on the Marquee Tourism Events Program, please visit the Canada's Economic Action Plan website (http://www.actionplan.gc.ca/).

If there is a discrepancy between any printed version and the electronic version of this news release, the electronic version will prevail.

Backgrounder

The Marquee Tourism Events Program

Canada's Economic Action Plan provides $100 million in funding over two years for marquee tourism events that draw a significant number of tourists to Canada.

Marquee tourism events provide significant cultural, sporting and recreational opportunities for Canadians and attract national and international audiences to all parts of the country. Support for these events contributes to Canada's visitor economy by sustaining or increasing the level of tourism and tourism-related spending that benefits hotels, restaurants and a variety of small and medium-sized businesses.

As a result, the Marquee Tourism Events Program will provide funding to support annually recurring, world-class events that generate significant levels of tourism and that aim to attract a significant amount of international media attention to Canada as a tourism destination. Events must be well-established and have a tradition of programming excellence.

The Government of Canada recognizes that tourism is an important driver of economic activity in all regions of Canada and that further expansion of Canada's tourism industry can increase tourism export revenues and provide stimulus to the economy at a critical time.

All interested applicants for the Marquee Tourism Events Program must demonstrate how their event will contribute to the objectives of the program to help events deliver enhanced world-class programs and experiences, thereby increasing or sustaining the number of tourists from within and outside Canada. If funding is provided, all applicants will be required to provide annual audited financial statements for the years in which funding is received and the two years following the completion of the proposed project. An independent study examining the economic impact of the funding is also required. Applicants will also be subject to monitoring and independent audits for the funds received.

The economic impact of the tourism industry is significant, representing 2 percent of Canada's gross domestic product, over 662 900 jobs in all regions across the country and $20 billion in government revenues.

Canada's Economic Action Plan is intended to stimulate the economy and invest in our long-term growth. The tourism initiatives in this plan lay out a framework for branding Canada as a tourism destination of choice for domestic and international visitors.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
        Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
        Minister of Industry
        Lynn Meahan
        Press Secretary
        613-995-9001

        Industry Canada
        Media Relations
        613-943-2502

Source: Industry Canada

MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 02/09/10 -- On behalf of the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Megantic-L'Erable, today announced the Government of Canada's investment of more than $1 million to support the Montreal High Lights Festival as part of the Marquee Tourism Events Program.

"Today's funding announcement will benefit not only the Montreal High Lights Festival, but also the thousands of businesses that provide services to event attendees," said Minister Paradis. "Through the Government of Canada's Marquee Tourism Events Program, the festival can continue to be instrumental in showcasing Montreal as a premiere international host and a city truly dedicated to making visitors feel welcome."

"We are very glad to count on the financial support of Industry Canada," said Mr. Alain Simard, President, Montreal High Lights Festival. "This funding allows us to set up many of our free activities and supports the launch of the Caliente! concert series and new concepts in the Wine and Dine Experience program. These new additions offer Montrealers and tourists an enhanced festival experience, while raising the international profile of Montreal and Canada during the winter."

The Montreal High Lights Festival is a multidisciplinary event that brings together a diverse array of artistic performers and the digital arts. Programming includes two flagship events: the High Lights Event, a free outdoor production combining multimedia presentations, circus arts and music; and the All-Nighter, which presents some 200 activities, most of them free, during a night of exhibitions, shows and workshops.

Funding from the Marquee Tourism Events Program will enable the festival to add new and enhanced programming, including a series of dining and culinary activities, music and dance performances, pyrotechnics, acrobatics and more. The festival will also increase its marketing and promotional efforts through additional print and online advertising aimed at attracting both domestic and international visitors to Montreal and its surrounding areas.

The Government of Canada's Marquee Tourism Events Program is investing $100 million over two years to assist events such as this one across the country. This program will help organizers expand the reach of their events and promote Canada as a must-see tourist destination to visitors from around the world.

The Marquee Tourism Events Program is one of several tourism-related programs announced in Canada's Economic Action Plan. These programs provide measures to support Canada's economy, stimulate the growth of tourism and contribute to the development of Canada's visitor economy over the long term. They include the following:

--  $150 million over two years for national parks and historic sites; and
--  $40 million over two years to the Canadian Tourism Commission for
    domestic and international marketing.

For more information on the Marquee Tourism Events Program, please visit the Canada's Economic Action Plan website (http://www.actionplan.gc.ca/).

If there is a discrepancy between any printed version and the electronic version of this news release, the electronic version will prevail.

Backgrounder

The Marquee Tourism Events Program

Canada's Economic Action Plan provides $100 million in funding over two years for marquee tourism events that draw a significant number of tourists to Canada.

Marquee tourism events provide significant cultural, sporting and recreational opportunities for Canadians and attract national and international audiences to all parts of the country. Support for these events contributes to Canada's visitor economy by sustaining or increasing the level of tourism and tourism-related spending that benefits hotels, restaurants and a variety of small and medium-sized businesses.

As a result, the Marquee Tourism Events Program will provide funding to support annually recurring, world-class events that generate significant levels of tourism and that aim to attract a significant amount of international media attention to Canada as a tourism destination. Events must be well-established and have a tradition of programming excellence.

The Government of Canada recognizes that tourism is an important driver of economic activity in all regions of Canada and that further expansion of Canada's tourism industry can increase tourism export revenues and provide stimulus to the economy at a critical time.

All interested applicants for the Marquee Tourism Events Program must demonstrate how their event will contribute to the objectives of the program to help events deliver enhanced world-class programs and experiences, thereby increasing or sustaining the number of tourists from within and outside Canada. If funding is provided, all applicants will be required to provide annual audited financial statements for the years in which funding is received and the two years following the completion of the proposed project. An independent study examining the economic impact of the funding is also required. Applicants will also be subject to monitoring and independent audits for the funds received.

The economic impact of the tourism industry is significant, representing 2 percent of Canada's gross domestic product, over 662 900 jobs in all regions across the country and $20 billion in government revenues.

Canada's Economic Action Plan is intended to stimulate the economy and invest in our long-term growth. The tourism initiatives in this plan lay out a framework for branding Canada as a tourism destination of choice for domestic and international visitors.

Contacts:
Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
Minister of Industry
Lynn Meahan
Press Secretary
613-995-9001

Industry Canada
Media Relations
613-943-2502