Sara Lee Corp. (NYSE: SLE) today appointed Jan Pieter (JP) Schretlen to vice president and general manager for its foodservice beverage unit.

Schretlen, 37, will lead all aspects of Sara Lee Foodservice business development for beverage in North America. His leadership of the beverage business team will drive innovation behind key initiatives including ongoing investment in the company’s liquid-coffee solutions and its line of sustainably produced coffee under the Good Origin brand. He will report to Tom Hayes, president, Sara Lee Foodservice.

“JP has significantly contributed to our position as industry leader in beverage,” Hayes says. “His dedication to innovation and deep understanding of customer needs will further enable Sara Lee to help them feed their bottom line.”

Schretlen previously held the title of commercial director of business and industry for Douwe Egberts Coffee Systems in the Netherlands. He joined the company in 1995 and has since held marketing and sales positions within the company’s international beverage business, including managing the Douwe Egberts brand in the Netherlands and serving as the general manager of Laurentis, the Dutch market leader in espresso.