Acquisition

Associated British Foods PLC
09 March 2004


9 March 2004


                ABF buys Mexican food oils brands from Unilever.

Associated British Foods plc (ABF), the international food, ingredients and
retail group, today announced an agreement to buy Unilever's food oils and fats
brands in Mexico for US$ 110 million in cash. ABF will manage the Mexican
business through its US subsidiary ACH Food Companies (ACH).  Completion is
subject to Mexican regulatory approvals.

ACH, already a leader in the branded, foodservice and own label food oils
sectors in the US, enhances its leading premium oils position by adding Capullo,
the Mexican market's leading premium canola oil brand to its portfolio.
Further, ACH will extend its current Mazola business in North America with the
addition of the Mazola brand, a leader in the corn oil market in Mexico.  The
Inca brand, which holds 50% of the Mexican market for shortening fat, will also
be acquired.  The brands being acquired had sales in Mexico in 2003 of US$124
million.

This acquisition enables ABF to build on its core capabilities in the US food
oils business and in particular its purchasing and marketing skills. It not only
provides ABF with an entry to the growing Mexican market but also the
opportunity to introduce the Capullo brand to the US where ACH already has a
strong franchise with Hispanic consumers.

Commenting on this latest acquisition, John Bason, Finance Director of
Associated British Foods, said:
  
'We very successfully integrated Mazola in the US, and now Capullo and Mazola in
Mexico provide us with an excellent opportunity to take our expertise into a new
and growing market for ABF.'



For further information, please contact;

Associated British Foods
John Bason, Finance Director                            Tel: [phone]

Geoff Lancaster, Head of External Affairs               Tel: [phone]

Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Jonathan Clare/Chris Barrie/Sara Batchelor              Tel: [phone]



Notes to Editors

Associated British Foods

Associated British Foods is an international food, ingredients and retail group
with annual sales of £4.9 billion and 35,000 employees.  The Group is one of
Europe's largest food companies and has significant businesses in Australia,
China and the US.




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