Fri, 15 Aug 2025

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 Kingsmill owner to buy Hovis to make UK bread giant

Warburtons is the current market leader and the deal needs approval from the competition watchdog.
Associated British Foods (ABF), owner of Kingsmill, has agreed to buy Hovis from private equity owner Endless in a deal worth an estimated £75m. The combined business would create the UK's largest bread brand and aims to become profitable by cutting costs. ABF's Allied Bakeries business, which makes Kingsmill and Allinson's bread, hopes to achieve "significant cost synergies and efficiencies" through the merger. However, Unite union has warned that job cuts are likely, with general secretary Sharon Graham saying: "We will not tolerate attacks on jobs, pay or conditions." The deal still requires approval from the competition watchdog and could lead to redundancies if implemented as planned.
  >>