(Updates with comments from the company's chief executive in an interview)
By Anjali Cordeiro
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- Sara Lee Corp. (SLE) said Thursday it remains in negotiations on the sale of other parts of its international household business.
In September, Sara Lee announced a binding offer from Unilever (UN ULVR.LN) for its global body care and European detergents businesses. Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) is interested in buying part of Sara Lee's international household products unit, The Wall Street Journal reported last month, citing people familiar with the matter.
Sara Lee didn't specify Thursday who potential buyers might be.
"The process is well underway," said Chief Executive Brenda Barnes in an interview. "We are in discussions with potential buyers. We do feel good about selling the balance of the portfolio."
Sara Lee's fiscal first-quarter earnings rose 23.5% amid lower costs as results exceeded analysts' expectations. The company is cutting prices on some products like bakery goods.
Barnes said on a conference call that the food-service industry isn't showing signs of improvement as consumers continue to avoid eating out.
Sara Lee said it will use acquisitions to add to its core businesses, but that it has no desire to add back unrelated categories to its business.
-By Anjali Cordeiro, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2200; anjali.cordeiro@dowjones.com