Some of Britain’s best- known food brands, including Bird’s custard and Ragu pasta sauce, could reportedly become culinary bedfellows under plans to create a new food giant.

The owner of Branston Pickle stocked up on some of Britain’s best known brands after agreeing the £1.2bn (€1.8bn) takeover of Hovis owner RHM today.

Hovis-to-Mr Kipling foods group RHM today said that price hikes in its bread division had helped it to a 2% increase in half-year sales.

The maker of Mr Kipling cakes and Bisto gravy will be valued at up to £975m (€1.4bn) when it floats on the London stock market, it emerged today.