Two of the UK’s biggest bakeries to combine to make bread giant

This strategic move is expected to yield ‘significant costs synergies and efficiencies’ - (PA Media)

Associated British Foods (ABF), the owner of Kingsmill, Ryvita, and Twinings, is set to acquire the historic Hovis Group, merging it with its own bakery arm.

The multinational confirmed on Friday that an agreement has been reached to buy Hovis from private equity owner Endless. The deal will "combine" the production and distribution activities of Hovis with ABF’s Allied Bakeries business, which produces Kingsmill and Allinson’s bread.