After 50 years on the board of Associated British Foods, Garry Weston is finally stepping down at the age of 72 following a stroke and continuing health problems.

Mr Weston headed the group for more than 30 years, having taken over as chief executive in 1966.

It owned the Quinnsworth chain of supermarkets until they were bought by Tesco.

ABF was started by Mr Weston's father in 1935, then known as Allied Bakeries.

One of its claims to fame was that it introduced the sliced pan to the British market. Ironically, in recent years, the baking side of the business has proved a burden, with excess capacity dragging down the figures.