West suburban-based Sara Lee is thinking of moving its headquarters.

For six years, Sara Lee has been based in Downers Grove and it’s already thinking of relocating many of its 1,000 employees there. But while other companies in Chicago and the suburbs have been thinking of moving their headquarters out of Illinois altogether, Sara Lee isn’t looking to go so far.

“We’ve loved Downers Grove and we’ve loved being out here,” Sara Lee spokesman Jon Harris said in a phone interview Thursday.

He said the company might relocate to another suburb or downtown Chicago.

“We do believe that a downtown location would provide our new North American Meat Co. with an environment that will be energetic, that will foster breakthrough thinking, create revolutionary products, offer fresh perspectives and, really, own the market,” he said.

Harris said the move is still preliminary and wouldn’t happen until Sara Lee splits into two companies, scheduled for next year. He said a downtown location would likely serve the new company that focuses on meats, while Sara Lee would still use its research and development center currently based in Downers Grove.