“What’s going on at the Sara Lee plant?”

That was the question onlookers put to The Ticker about the Traverse City facility. With 550 employees, the plant is one of the largest employers in Grand Traverse County and any changes there spark questions among the curious: Is it being sold? Is it being remodeled? Are there going to be changes in staffing?

None of the above – it’s merely a corporate name change underway, Matt Pakula, spokesman for Hillshire Brands, formerly known as Sara Lee Corp., tells The Ticker.

Earlier this summer, Sara Lee spun off its divisions as independent companies, then named its one remaining division Hillshire Brands. “After that, Sara Lee no longer existed as a company,” he explains.

Though new “Hillshire Brands” signage is up at the TC plant, Hillshire Brands’ foodservice division will be known as “Sara Lee Foodservice.” It handles a full portfolio of meat and bakery items, including the pies made at the TC plant at 2718 Sybrandt Road off Cass Road. In 1978, Sara Lee acquired the plant from Chef Pierre Inc., a pie company founded by former TC Mayor Pete Dendrinos in 1956.

“The Traverse City plant produces pies for us and will continue to do so,” says Pakula. “None of our plants will change what they produce. And we don’t expect any hirings or layoffs because of this transition. It’s really all about changing the name of the company.”

The former Sara Lee Corp. became two independent companies – D.E. Master Blenders 1753, a coffee and tea company, and Hillshire Brands, which focuses on baked goods and consumer meat products, including Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, Ball Park, Aidells, Gallo Salame and State Fair.

“We needed a name and identity that captures the potential of this new organization,” says Sean Connolly, former CEO of Sara Lee who became CEO of Hillshire Brands. “Hillshire Brands represents our strong heritage in quality and great taste, as well as our ambitions for growing our portfolio of iconic brands in the future.”

The Hillshire name was inspired by the Hillshire Farm brand, which Sara Lee acquired in 1971. “A key goal was to retain the strong equity with consumers and customers that the Hillshire name brings us,” adds Connolly.

Sara Lee, now Hillshire Brands, generates nearly $8 billion in annual net sales and employs approximately 20,000 people worldwide.