UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 16, 2014

The Hillshire Brands Company

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

400 South Jefferson Street, Chicago, Illinois 60607

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (312) 614-6000

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

On June 16, 2014, The Hillshire Brands Company (“Hillshire”) issued a press release regarding the Hillshire board of directors’ withdrawal of its recommendation that Hillshire’s stockholders approve the issuance of Hillshire common stock in the previously-announced merger with Pinnacle Foods Inc. (“Pinnacle”). A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and is incorporated herein by reference.

(d) Exhibits

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to certain plans and objectives of Hillshire with respect to the proposed merger with Pinnacle, including expectations regarding timing of the stockholder meeting to consider the issuance of Hillshire stock in the proposed merger. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements often use words such as “anticipate”, “target”, “expect”, “estimate”, “intend”, “plan”, “goal”, “believe”, “hope”, “aim”, “continue”, “will”, “may”, “would”, “could” or “should” or other words of similar meaning or the negative thereof. There are several factors which could cause actual plans to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the time necessary to obtain required regulatory clearance. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. The factors described in the context of such forward-looking statements in this announcement could cause Hillshire’s plans with respect to Pinnacle to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although it is believed that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct and persons reading this announcement are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as at the date of this announcement. Hillshire assumes no obligation to update the information contained in this announcement (whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise), except as required by applicable law.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed merger with Pinnacle, if the merger agreement with Pinnacle is not terminated, Hillshire will prepare a registration statement on Form S-4 that will include a joint proxy statement/prospectus for the stockholders of Hillshire and Pinnacle to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and each will mail the joint proxy statement/prospectus to their respective stockholders and file other documents regarding the proposed transaction with the SEC. Hillshire and Pinnacle urge investors and stockholders to

read the joint proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes available, as well as other documents filed with the SEC, because they will contain important information. Investors and security holders will be able to receive the registration statement containing the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents free of charge at the SEC’s web site, http://www.sec.gov. These documents can also be obtained (when they are available) free of charge from Hillshire upon written request to the Investor Relations Department, 400 South Jefferson Street, Chicago, Illinois 60607, telephone number (312) 614-8100 or from Hillshire’s website, http://investors.hillshirebrands.com, or from Pinnacle upon written request to the Investor Relations Department, 399 Jefferson Road, Parsippany, New Jersey, 07054, telephone number (973) 434-2924, or from Pinnacle’s website, http://investors.pinnaclefoods.com.

Participants in Solicitation

Hillshire, Pinnacle and their respective directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the respective stockholders of Hillshire and Pinnacle in respect of the proposed merger. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the respective stockholders of Hillshire and Pinnacle in connection with the proposed merger will be set forth in the joint proxy statement/prospectus when it is filed with the SEC. You can find information about Hillshire’s executive officers and directors in its definitive proxy statement for its 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on September 12, 2013. You can find more information about Pinnacle’s executive officers and directors in its definitive proxy statement for its 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 30, 2014. You can obtain free copies of these documents from Hillshire and Pinnacle using the contact information above.

Non-Solicitation

This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: June 16, 2014

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