Tycoon mulls move to gatecrash foods merger

Goodfella’s pizza and Fox’s biscuit firm Northern Foods today confirmed West Midlands tycoon Ranjit Boparan had requested access to its books amid speculation he is planning a £300m (€353m) bid.

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