Notification of Major Interest in Shares

1. Identity of the issuer or the underlying issuer of existing shares to which voting rights are attached _(ii)
   
   Associated British Foods plc
2. Reason for the notification (please place an X inside the appropriate bracket/s): An acquisition or disposal of voting rights: ( )
   
   An acquisition or disposal of financial instruments which may result in the acquisition of shares already issued to which voting rights are attached: ( )
   
   An event changing the breakdown of voting rights: ( )
   
   Other (please specify): Initial notification, made under TP7
   
   
3. Full name of person(s) subject to the notification obligation _(iii):
   A. Garfield Weston Foundation
   B. Wittington Investments Limited
   C. Howard Investments Limited
   
   
4. Full name of shareholder(s) (if different from 3.) _(iv):
   Wittington Investments Limited
   Howard Investments Limited
   
   
5. Date of the transaction (and date on which the threshold is crossed or reached if different) _(v):
   Not applicable - this notification is made under TP7
   
   
6. Date on which issuer notified:
   March 19, 2007
   
   
7. Threshold(s) that is/are crossed or reached: See 5 above.
   
   
8. Notified details:
   Garfield Weston Foundation owns 79.2% of the issued share capital of Wittington Investments Limited;
   Wittington Investments Limited owns 431,518,108 ordinary shares (50.9%) of the Issuer's issued ordinary capital;
   Wittington Investments Limited owns 100% of the issued share capital of Howard Investments Limited, which owns 28,173,889 ordinary shares (3.6%) of the Issuer's issued ordinary share capital;
   The Garfield Weston Foundation indirectly owns 431,515,108 ordinary shares (54.5%) in the Issuer, making the Foundation the Issuer's ultimate controlling party.

A: Voting rights attached to shares

Resulting situation after the triggering transaction _(vii)

B: Financial Instruments

Resulting situation after the triggering transaction _(xii)

1. Chain of controlled undertakings through which the voting rights and/or the financial instruments are effectively held, if applicable ^(xv):
   Garfield Weston Foundation to Wittington Investments Limited:
   Wittington Investments Limited to i) Howard Investments Limited to the Issuer; and (ii) the Issuer.

    

Proxy Voting:

1. Name of the proxy holder:
   N/A
   
   
2. Number of voting rights proxy holder will cease to hold:
   N/A
   
   
3. Date on which proxy holder will cease to hold voting rights:
   N/A
   
   
4. Additional information:
   This notification is made to satisfy the notifying parties' obligations on the coming into force of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules and the Transitional Provisions
   
   
5. Contact name:
   Rosalyn Mendelsohn
   Deputy Company Secretary
   Associated British Foods plc
   
   
6. Contact telephone number:
   020 7399 6500