Associated British Foods

### Associated British Foods plc **Associated British Foods plc** (ABF) is a **British multinational food processing and retailing company** with a rich history and a diverse portfolio. Founded by **W. Garfield Weston** in 1935, ABF has grown into a global powerhouse with operations in over 53 countries across Europe, Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Australia. #### Operations and Divisions ABF operates through five main divisions: - **Sugar**: One of the world's largest producers of sugar. - **Agriculture**: Provides ingredients and services to the farming and food industries. - **Retail**: Best known for its value fashion retail chain, **Primark**. - **Grocery**: Produces a variety of well-known brands, including **Mazola**, **Ovaltine**, and **Twinings**. - **Ingredients**: A major producer of ingredients like emulsifiers, enzymes, and lactose. #### Financial Highlights - **Revenue**: £19.750 billion (2023) - **Operating Income**: £1.383 billion (2023) - **Net Income**: £1.068 billion (2023) - **Total Assets**: £18.844 billion (2023) - **Total Equity**: £11.193 billion (2023) - **Number of Employees**: 133,000 (2024) #### Commitment to Sustainability ABF is dedicated to sustainable practices and invests in research and development, capital expenditure, and environmental policy to remain a market leader. #### Retail Expansion The retail division, **Primark**, has approximately 384 stores, predominantly in Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain, and the UK, offering affordable fashion to a wide customer base. #### Family Ownership The Weston family, through **Wittington Investments**, owns a majority stake in ABF, ensuring a consistent vision and leadership for the company.