Kingsmill to buy bread rival | Shein gets UK sales boost | easyJet launches recruitment drive
Here’s a look at three of today’s big business stories…
Kingsmill owner to buy Hovis
Kingsmill owner Associated British Foods is preparing to snap up its rival bread brand Hovis.
ABF, which also owns brands including Ryvita and Twinings, said it has “reached an agreement” to buy Hovis from private equity owner Endless.
The multinational told investors that the deal will “combine” the production and distribution activities of Hovis and its Allied Bakeries business, which makes Kingsmill and Allinson’s bread.
The deal is subject to regulatory approval and is likely to attract the attention of the Competition and Markets Authority for combining two of the larger bread makers in the country behind the market leader, Warburtons.
UK sales jump for Shein ahead of stock market float
Fast fashion giant Shein’s sales jumped in the UK by almost a third last year, ahead of plans to float the company.
Official accounts show its customers in Britain made just over £2bn worth of purchases.
The online retailer’s low prices are attracting younger shoppers in particular.
Shein said it has benefited from the opening of two new offices in Kings Cross and Manchester, the launch of a pop-up shop in Liverpool, and a Christmas bus tour across 12 cities in the UK.
It comes as the company continues with efforts to secure a stock market IPO (initial public offering).
The company had been widely tipped to launch on the London Stock Exchange but is reportedly nearing a listing in Hong Kong.
EasyJet targets school-leavers with recruitment drive
EasyJet is launching a new cabin crew recruitment drive – targeting young people who are not in employment, education or training.
The airline is set to take on almost 1,000 new cabin crew for 2026, and is encouraging young adults and school-leavers to consider applying.
Michael Brown, director of cabin services at easyJet, said: “We want to show young people that being cabin crew is more than just a job – it’s a career filled with variety, teamwork and opportunity, which has so much to offer to so many people.”
