George Weston Foods (GWF) has acquired New Zealand bagel company, Abe's Bagels, as per capita bread consumption continues to fall across Australia, but demand for premium breads and bakery products grows.
GWF is one of Australia’s largest food manufacturers, producing brands including Mauri, Tip Top, Abbotts, Don, and Yumi’s. The company has been heavily investing in its bakery businesses this year, completing a $130 million redevelopment of its Tip Top Bakeries facility in Canning Vale, Western Australia in March, and nearing completion of its new Mauri flour mill in Ballarat, Victoria. Now, GWF is branching out into the bagel business.
Abe’s Bagels first launched its bagel range into the Australian market in 2016, and has kept up the innovation ever since. The company released its Thiiins range in late 2024, following research which identified a growing demand for lighter bagel options, and jumped on the high-protein trend last June with the Protein Bagel.
Abe’s Bagels general manager sales and marketing, Catherine Parlane, said the acquisition was a moment to reflect on the team’s achievements over the past few years.
“3.5 years ago, when I joined Abe’s, the business was approximately $32m in revenue. Today, it has grown to more than $50m. Achieving 56 per cent growth for a 30-year-old brand is amazing, a testament to the strength of the brand and team behind it,” Parlane stated on LinkedIn.
“Over this period, we’ve cemented Abe’s position as the clear market leader in bagels across Australia and New Zealand, with 75 per cent market share, while growing the total category.
“None of this would have been possible without the passion, resilience and belief of Abe's team. Our focus, speed of thinking, speed of decision making and growth mindset consistently set us apart. We moved quickly, backed ourselves and stayed relentlessly focused on building both the brand and the category for the long term. The energy, ambition and commitment people bring every day is what truly sets the business apart.”
Parlane stated she would be supporting the business through the transition period to help position it strongly for its next chapter under GWF ownership.
The Abe’s Bagels product range is available in all major supermarkets across Australia and New Zealand.
