Greencore has increased its presence in the British food market with the purchase of International Cuisine Ltd (ICL), a Durham-based private label chilled ready-meal business, for an undisclosed sum.

Merger and acquisition activity grew by 17.6% during the second quarter of 2012, according to the latest NCB Corporate Finance M&A Tracker Survey.

Greencore, the Dublin-headquartered group which supplies convenience foods to all of Britain’s main supermarket chains, is very comfortable with its financial goals for the year, helped by sales from events around Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond jubilee, says chief executive Patrick Coveney.

Greencore has acquired US snacks producer HC Schau & Son for around €15.5m, of which€10.4m is being paid in cash.