Premier may exit tea

Premier Foods has confirmed that it is in talks regarding the sale of its tea business, which includes Typhoo, London Fruit & Herb, Lift and other associated brands.

The company, which bought Marlow Foods and the Quorn brand earlier this year, includes Branston pickle, Sun-Pat peanut butter, Loyd Grossman and Crosse & Blackwell sauces among its brand portfolio. Sales in 2004 were £842 million.