Associated British Foods shares slide after Primark sales slump Retail Shares in Associated British Foods (ABF), the owner of Primark, tumbled in early trading on Thursday morning after the FTSE 100 giant warned of a “difficult trading environment” and downgraded the fashion retailer’s growth forecasts. ABF, which owns the chain alongside its wholesale food business, said like-for-like sales across continental Europe declined as much as [...]
ABF considers spinning off Primark Retail Consumer goods giant ABF is considering selling off fashion brand Primark as it undertakes a ‘comprehensive review’ of the business. ABF, which founded Primark – then known as Pennies – in Dublin in 1969, said that “no decision” has been taken yet. The strategic review will be carried out with the help of the advisory [...]
ABF: Primark owner’s shares sink as sales slow at FTSE 100 giant Retail Shares in Primark owner Associated British Foods (ABF) have plunged after posting what analysts branded a “mixed bag” of results. The FTSE 100 warned that challenging conditions were weighing on the company’s trading, listing consumer caution, geopolitical uncertainty and inflation as top factors. Shares plunged 13 per cent on the news to their lowest value [...]
UK’s largest bioethanol plant to shut after US trade deal August 15, 2025 The UK’s largest bioethanol plant is to shut, its owner has said, after the government decided not offer the struggling factory an emergency funding settlement after months of fraught negotiations. Vivergo Fuels had been locked in talks over its future with the business department since June, after it warned an element of the UK-US trade [...]
Breadmakers Hovis and Kingsmill butter up £75m merger July 26, 2025 Bread producers Hovis and Kingsmill are set for a historic merger with their owners expected to ink an agreement after months of discussion. Kingsmill, whose immediate parent Allied Bakeries is owned by London-listed Associated British Foods (ABF), and Hovis could benefit from up to £50m of annual cost savings from a merger. The proposed agreement, [...]
Hovis: Losses widen amid Kingsmill merger talks July 9, 2025 Losses have widened at bread maker Hovis amid ongoing merger talks with the owner or rival Kingsmill, it has been revealed. Hovis, which is backed by private equity firm Endless, saw its pre-tax losses go from £3.6m to £4.7m in the year to 28 September, 2024. New accounts filed with Companies House also show its [...]
ABF confirms plans to shut bioethanol plant despite last-minute government negotiations June 26, 2025 Associated British Foods has confirmed plans to shut its Yorkshire bioethanol plant despite the government entering formal negotiations to rescue the site, in a blow to Labour’s new industrial strategy. The food producer, which also owns the retail giant Primark, said it had now begun consultation with employees to effect an orderly wind-down, with purchases [...]
Up to 4,000 livelihoods at risk as ABF prepares to pull plug on bioethanol plant May 27, 2025 As many as 4,000 livelihoods are at risk after the owner of Britain’s largest bioethanol plant has warned it could shut within days, citing UK-US tariff policy. ABF, which owns the Vivergo Fuels plant in Yorkshire, has written to farmers warning it planned to suspend purchases of wheat used in the production process unless the [...]
City broker backs Kingsmill merger with Hovis May 6, 2025 A “merger of equals” between Kingsmill and Hovis may be necessary for the turnaround of both businesses, a City broker has said. Kingsmill-owner ABF confirmed this morning that it was exploring a merger with Hovis as one of several options for its bakery arm. ABF said the talks had been prompted by a “very challenging” [...]
Kingsmill-owner ABF confirms merger talks with Hovis May 6, 2025 Kingsmill-owner ABF has confirmed it is in talks to merge with Hovis in what would become Britain’s biggest bread maker. ABF said the talks had been prompted by a “very challenging” market for its products. Rising prices of wheat and lower demand for high-calorie goods like bread have made it tougher to make a profit [...]