AB Foods: acquires Australian bakery group

London / UK. (eb) As briefly mentioned by Associated British Foods PLC (ABF) in its outlook for the second half of 2024, the Group acquired The Artisanal Group, a leading manufacturer and wholesaler of bakery products in Australia, mainly supplying cafés, restaurants and hotels, in the first half of 2024. The group sells its products under the brands «Noisette» in Melbourne and «Brasserie Bread» with headquarters in Banksmeadow NSW and three production facilities in NSW, QLD and VIC. The «Jaune» patisserie in Preston VIC, which specializes in mooncakes popular in China and Oceania, may also be part of the group.

(Photo: Screenshot)

Either way, the acquisition will strengthen the British group’s Australian bakery business under the «Tip Top» brand. The traditional brand belongs to George Weston Foods Limited (GWF). With over 6,000 employees at 40 locations, GWF is not only one of the largest food producers in Australia and New Zealand, but also a company of Associated British Foods PLC. The GWF product range is diverse and, in addition to «Tip Top», includes leading brands such as «Sunblest», «Abbotts Village Bakery», «Burgen», «Golden», «DON» meat products, «KR Castlemaine», «Yumi’s» (dips, aiolis, falafel …) as well as «Mauri» (baking agents, flour, ground products, animal feed) and «Jasol» (cleaning and hygiene solutions). It can be assumed that nothing will change for the Artisanal team. Anything else would be unusual.