Bids get chipper for Kettle Foods firm

THE maker of up-market Kettle Chips has attracted a second round of bids after being put up for sale in a £400 million auction, it was reported yesterday.

Kettle Foods is currently owned by Lion Capital, the private equity backer of Weetabix and Wagamama.

According to reports, a number of food groups are in the running for the whole group or just the UK or US assets.

United Biscuits, which owns McVitie's, Jacob's and Twiglets, is reported to have offered up to 200m for the UK part of the business. A variety of players in the North America market are believed to have made bids.