Sara Lee Branded Apparel, the parent of catalog unit Sara Lee Direct, laid off 775 employees–about 2% of its workforce–as part of an organizational review to more closely align its businesses. In addition, about 285 employees located at Sara Lee Branded Apparel’s U.S. headquarters accepted a voluntary transition program. Some of those positions, however, will be replaced.
According to spokesperson Peggy Carter, the company is not breaking out how the layoffs affected its direct-to-consumer business, which includes catalog titles such as OneHanesPlace, a purveyor of lingerie, hosiery, and casual apparel, and Champion catalog, which sells casual and athletic apparel.
Sara Lee Corp. earlier this year announced that it intends to spin off Sara Lee Branded Apparel into an independent, publicly held company. The move is expected to be completed in the third quarter. Sara Lee Branded Apparel anticipates adding positions during the next nine months to staff new functions required after the spin-off.