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Associated British Foods PLC - London-based food and ingredients producer and clothing retailer - Completes the purchase of Hovis Group Ltd from private equity firm Endless LLP, planning to integrate the bread maker with its own Allied Bakeries division to form a new business to be named Hovis Bakeries. The enlarged operation will combine the Hovis bread brand with Allied Bakeries’ Kingsmill, Allinson’s and Sunblest brands. It also will make own-label bakery ranges for major UK supermarkets. The acquisition of Hovis, for which no financial details have been disclosed, was cleared by the UK Competition & Markets Authority last month, with the regulator citing declining demand and higher costs for UK bread suppliers. ‘The completion of this transaction is a significant step towards the delivery of a profitable UK bread business,’ says AB Food Chief Executive George Weston. Back in April, AB Foods announced plans to demerge its fast-fashion retail business Primark, with both the remaining ’FoodCo’ and Primark listed in London. Current stock price: 1,948.50 pence 12-month change: down 5.5% Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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