Primark could soon be separated from the food brands owned by its parent company, Associated British Foods (ABF), as the group confirmed during the announcement of its financial results for the year ending 13th September.
The retailer reported a 1% rise in annual revenues to US $ 12.38 billion, driven by continued store rollouts across Europe and the United States, which contributed 4% to overall sales growth. In the United Kingdom, sales gained momentum in the latter half of the year as Primark sharpened its focus on its core value proposition.
Despite this growth, ABF cautioned that a “subdued” retail environment was likely to impact Primark’s performance in the year ahead.
The company revealed that it is considering splitting Primark and its food businesses into two separate entities as part of a wider strategic review. The process is being undertaken with advisory support from Rothschild & Co and backed by ABF’s largest shareholder, the Weston family’s Wittington Investments.
ABF confirmed that no final decision had been reached, noting that the board would provide an update on the review “as soon as practicable.”
Commenting on the results, ABF Chief Executive George Weston said the past year had been one of “intense strategic and operational activity” for the group. He stated that most of ABF’s divisions had delivered strong financial results despite challenging market conditions.
Looking ahead, Weston expressed confidence in the group’s outlook for 2026 but acknowledged that much would depend on the broader consumer environment, which he described as “particularly unpredictable at the moment.”
