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ABF sees 'diminishing' chance of Northern Ireland unit sale for Hovis deal review

By Jon Menon ( April 27, 2026, 15:55 GMT | Insight) -- Associated British Foods said it would probably have to close down its bakery business in Northern Ireland in the event that it doesn’t gain antitrust clearance for its acquisition of Hovis Group because of the dearth of viable buyers for the division. The merger, which the Competition and Markets Authority has said would combine the two largest bread suppliers in the region, is undergoing an in-depth probe.Associated British Foods said it would probably have to close down its bakery business in Northern Ireland in the event that it doesn’t gain UK antitrust clearance for its acquisition of Hovis Group because of the dearth of viable buyers for the division....

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