---
title: "Kingsmill Owner and Hovis Celebrate Takeover Agreement"
publisher: "Share Talk"
author: "sharetalk"
published: "2025-08-15T09:45:54+00:00"
modified: "2025-08-15T09:45:54+00:00"
date: 2025-08-15
canonical: "https://www.share-talk.com/kingsmill-owner-and-hovis-celebrate-takeover-agreement/"
category: "Business & Support Services"
categories: ["Business & Support Services", "Food & Beverages", "Food Industry", "Technology", "Technology, Media & Telecoms"]
tags: ["ABF", "Allied Bakeries", "Allinson", "Associated British Foods", "George Weston", "Hovis", "Kingsmill", "Primark", "Sunblest", "Warburtons"]
image: "https://i0.wp.com/www.share-talk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/WhatsApp-Image-2025-08-15-at-10.41.53.webp?fit=1200%2C900&quality=80&ssl=1"
format: "news"
language: "en-GB"
---

# Kingsmill Owner and Hovis Celebrate Takeover Agreement

**Published:** August 15, 2025
**Author:** sharetalk
**Categories:** Business & Support Services, Food & Beverages, Food Industry, Technology, Technology, Media & Telecoms
**Tags:** ABF, Allied Bakeries, Allinson, Associated British Foods, George Weston, Hovis, Kingsmill, Primark, Sunblest, Warburtons
**Featured image:** ![](https://i0.wp.com/www.share-talk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/WhatsApp-Image-2025-08-15-at-10.41.53.webp?fit=1200%2C900&quality=80&ssl=1)

---

**Associated British Foods (ABF),** the FTSE 100 company behind Kingsmill and retailer Primark, has agreed to acquire rival bakery brand Hovis from private equity firm Endless — a move that could create the UK’s largest bread brand if approved by regulators.

The deal, uniting the country’s second- and third-largest bread brands, is expected to attract scrutiny from the Competition and Markets Authority. Both companies have been losing ground to market leader Warburtons. Hovis reported a near 9% fall in revenue to £447 million in the year to 28 September 2024, with pre-tax losses widening to £4.7 million, compared with £3.6 million the year before. This included £530,000 in one-off restructuring costs.

ABF’s bakery arm, Allied Bakeries — which produces Kingsmill, Allinson’s, and Sunblest — also faced challenges, recording an estimated £30 million annual loss last year despite sales of about £400 million, according to broker Panmure Liberum.

ABF said combining the production and distribution operations of Allied Bakeries and Hovis would generate cost savings and efficiencies, creating a profitable and sustainable UK bread business over the long term.

George Weston, ABF chief executive, said:

“This transaction will create a UK bakeries business that is both profitable and sustainable over the long term. Supporting the Hovis and Kingsmill brands with well-invested and efficient operations will also enable innovation and growth. This solution will create value for shareholders, provide greater choice for consumers, and increase efficiencies for customers.”

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