Ferrero seeks to buy UK chocolate maker for €155m

Ferrero, maker of Nutella, has offered to buy British chocolate firm Thorntons for £112m (€155m), marking a rare acquisition by the Italian group.

The deal, backed by the board of Thorntons, brings together two of Europe’s best-known chocolate makers. It also marks the first move by the maker of Ferrero Rocher pralines since the death of its patriarch Michele Ferrero earlier this year.

Ferrero’s death rekindled speculation about a possible takeover of the company by rivals such as Mondelez International, Nestle, Mars, and Hershey.