Boparan is considering £300m bid for Northern (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Owner of Harry Ramsden's looking to purchase owner of Fox's Biscuits

8:50am Thursday 23rd December 2010 in Business By Chris Holland

Harry Ramsden's owner Ranjit Boparan has shown an interest in adding Northern Foods to his empire.

But an initial approach by letter, possibly the precursor to a £300 million offer by his Boparan Holdings group, was swiftly rebuffed by Northern Foods bosses.

Northern Foods, which owns Fox’s Biscuits, remain determined to press ahead with a proposed merger with Irish chilled foods firm Greencore, which is the UK’s biggest sandwich maker, and they have urged shareholders to vote for the deal.

The Northern Foods board confirmed it had received an approach from Boparan Holdings asking for information about the company.

Mr Boparan – one of Tesco’s biggest chicken suppliers and owner of the Harry Ramsden’s and FishWorks chains – is now going through Northern Food’s books after asking for access in a letter last week.

Northern Foods said Boparan Holdings had not made any offer or indicated the price at which it would make an offer.

For more details, read the Telegraph & Argus