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Associated British Foods set to announce Primark demerger plans as food and fashion arms face headwinds

Associated British Foods is poised to announce plans for a demerger of its Primark fashion business this week, as the group faces mounting pressures across both its fashion and food divisions. The potential split follows a strategic review announced in November and comes amid disappointing trading, with flat annual sales and falling profits. The Middle East conflict is expected to add further cost pressures, while the company also grapples with a competition regulator investigation into its planned bakery merger with Hovis.