SLOWING GROWTH at Primark, the discount retailer, damped an otherwise strong third quarter at its parent Associated British Foods.

The group, which owns Twinings tea and Patak's sauces and chutneys, said sales rose 24 per cent in the 16 weeks to June 21st, better than the 15 per cent increase in the first half of its financial year.

At Primark, sales rose 14 per cent in the third quarter, dipping from an increase of 25 per cent in the first half. John Bason, finance director at Primark, said poor weather in April affected sales. The group does not publish like-for-like figures, but said Primark's sales increase reflected additional store space.

Analysts took that to mean sales in comparable stores were flat or only slightly positive. The shares fell 29½p to 738½p. Mr Bason said the third quarter had been "in line with our expectations". The performance at Primark was resilient, he said. "We have not noticed any discernible effects" on sales following a programme that said Primark's suppliers in India had subcontracted work to children.