AB Foods shareholders supportive of Primark demerger, says CEO
21/04/2026 08:24
LONDON, April 21 (Reuters) - Associated British Foods' ABF.L shareholders are supportive of the group's plan to demerge its Primark fashion business from its food businesses, its boss said on Tuesday. "They think we're doing the right thing," chief executive George Weston told Reuters. "One of the reasons we announced back in November that we were having a hard look (at a potential separation) was to allow us to talk to all shareholders, we've done that and they are supportive," he said. The review was conducted in consultation with AB Foods' largest shareholder Wittington Investments - the holding company for the Weston family. Wittington - which holds just under 60% of AB Foods' equity, according to LSEG data - is committed to maintaining majority ownership of both Primark and the new food entity. Weston said AB Foods had not considered selling Primark during the review process. (Reporting by James Davey; editing by Sarah Young) ((james.davey@thomsonreuters.com))