Associated British Foods plc began as a bakery in 1935 and is now organised into five segments: Grocery, Ingredients, Sugar, Agriculture and Retail, which is Primark. The company says it operates in 56 countries and employs 138,000 people. Brands and businesses named on its site include Twinings, Ovomaltine, Jordans, Ryvita, Patak’s, Blue Dragon and Kingsmill, along with AB Mauri and British Sugar.
George Weston is Chief Executive. On 21 April 2026 the company announced that its board had decided to proceed with a demerger of Primark from the food business, intended to take effect before the end of the 2027 calendar year, subject to approvals and tax clearances.
Food Engineering ranks the group 42nd in its 2026 Top 100 Food and Beverage Companies, with food sales revenue of $13,227 million for the year to September 2025.