JBS SA has acquired Swift & Co., Pilgrim’s Pride and the beef assets of Smithfield Corp. since its entry into the U.S. market, making it one of the largest processors in the country, as well as one of the largest in the world. Sara Lee has recently trimmed its large portfolio of products and brands to focus on its core businesses of coffee and meat processing. The company has been without permanent management since CEO Branda Barnes stepped down this summer to recover from a stroke.
No final decision has been made on a JBS-Sara Lee tie-up, sources reported, and Sara Lee may decide against a sale. JBS has a market capitalization nearly equal to Sara Lee, which could make it challenging to finance a full takeover offer.