Office of Fair Trading (OFT) investigators in the UK have contacted manufacturers of leading household brands as part of an inquiry into alleged price fixing.

Strong sales of ice-cream helped Ben & Jerry’s and Magnum maker Unilever whip up a strong start to the year, the consumer products giant said today.

Typhoo tea could be set to change hands for up to £100m (€150m) after being put up for sale by its owner, a report said today.