Soft drinks brands Lucozade and Ribena could be bought by Japan’s Suntory Beverage & Food within days in a deal worth more than £1bn.

Snack favourites including KP Nuts, McCoy’s crisps and Hula Hoops were sold to a German firm today in a deal thought to be worth more than £500m (€615.9m).

McVitie’s and Jacob’s owner United Biscuits agreed today to a £1.6bn (€2.4bn) takeover by a consortium made up of two private equity firms.

YOUNGSTERS are still getting a diet high in junk food and low in nutrients despite moves by snack manufacturers to make their products healthier, nutrition experts said last night.