Not so sweet taste for Green & Black's

KRAFT, the American food conglomerate that bought UK sweets maker Cadbury last year, yesterday said it had "no current plans" to sell Green & Black's, the luxury chocolate brand.

The statement came after reports that bosses at Green & Black's are hoping to secure a management buyout as they struggle to retain their entrepreneurial spirit.

Cadbury bought the business six years ago for an estimated 20 million, having already taken a small stake in it in 2002.

Green & Black's was founded as an ethical fairtrade and organic chocolate firm in 1991 by Whole Earth Foods entrepreneur Craig Sams and his wife Josephine Fairley.

It is thought that Green & Black's approached Kraft with an initial proposal to spin-off from the firm at the end of last year, but the approach was reportedly rejected.