DOWNERS GROVE, ILL. — Sara Lee Corp. has opened The Kitchens of Sara Lee, its 120,000-square-foot research and development center located at the company’s headquarters in Downers Grove. The facility includes more than 100 R.&D. professionals, including chefs, scientists, engineers and packaging designers. Among its offerings, the facility will house a bakery pilot plant that will allow the company to better understand how formulas will translate to commercial-size facilities. "The Kitchens of Sara Lee represents an exciting new stage for our innovation vision," said Philippe Schaeillee, vice-president of marketing, strategy and research and development. "By connecting our consumer, customer and operator insights to the product development process, the new facility will enable our teams to increase success rates for new products."