Greencore merger bid

FOOD giant Greencore is investigating its options about a potential merger with Northern Foods.

British food tycoon Ranjit Boparan has indicated that a third of the company's shareholders backed his bid for the firm. Northern Foods agreed in January to back a bid worth 73 pence per share from Mr Boparan, valuing the business at around £342m (€402m) and trumping an all-share offer from Irish food group, Greencore.