Directorate Change

    Sara Lee Corporation

   Sara Lee Corporation Names Brenda C. Barnes to Board of Directors

Sara Lee Corporation today announced that Brenda C. Barnes has been elected a
director of the corporation, effective July 1, 2004. This appointment brings the
number of Sara Lee Corporation directors to 12.

Last month, the company announced that Barnes, 50, will serve as president and
chief operating officer of Sara Lee Corporation, effective July 1, 2004. She
will report to C. Steven McMillan, chairman and chief executive officer of Sara
Lee Corporation. Barnes is the former president and chief executive officer of
PepsiCola North America and currently is a member of the board of directors of
The New York Times Company and Staples Inc. She recently served as a director of
Avon Products, Inc., PepsiAmericas, Inc. and Sears, Roebuck & Co.

"Brenda's operational expertise, financial acumen and customer management skills
will be a significant asset to Sara Lee's board of directors," said McMillan.
"In addition, her experience with such a diverse and prominent group of
corporate boards makes Brenda a strong addition to our board."

During her 22-year career at PepsiCo, Barnes held a number of senior executive
positions in operations, general management, sales and marketing. In 1996,
Barnes was named president and chief executive officer of PepsiCola North
America, a position she held until 1998. Prior to joining PepsiCola North
America, she served at other PepsiCo divisions, including Frito-Lay as vice
president, marketing, and Wilson Sporting Goods as business manager.

From November 1999 to March 2000, Barnes served as interim president and chief
operating officer of Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

Barnes earned her bachelor's degree in economics from Augustana College and her
master's of business administration degree from Loyola University Chicago.

Sara Lee Corporation (www.saralee.com) is one of the world's leading branded
consumer packaged goods companies, selling its products in nearly 200 countries.
The company has three global businesses - Food and Beverage, Branded Apparel,
and Household Products - through which it manufactures and markets products of
exceptional quality and value under leading, well-known brand names such as Sara
Lee, Earth Grains, Jimmy Dean, Douwe Egberts, Chock full o' Nuts, Hanes,
Playtex, Bali, Dim, Kiwi, Ambi Pur and Sanex.


    CONTACT: Sara Lee Corporation
             Julie Ketay (Media), 312-558-8727
             Aaron Hoffman (Analysts), 312-558-8739