BRITISH food manufacturer Premier Foods has bought jam maker Chivers after it sold it in a management buyout in 1999, it was confirmed last night.

BARRY’S TEA has entered a joint venture arrangement with Bank of Scotland’s ICC Venture Capital arm to spend €62.25m to buy Batchelor’s and Beck Smith, the Irish operations of British giant Northern Foods.

BARRY’S TEA is on course to make its first major acquisition with the €60m purchase of Batchelor Canned Foods from troubled British company Northern Foods.