The family that owns curry sauce brand Patak's is considering the sale of all or part of the business.
The family-owned company has recruited investment bank NM Rothschild to assist it in a review of the business, with a possible deal with Unilever or Heinz, or the sale of a stake to a private equity firm, already highlighted as options.
Talk of a potential tie-up with Unilever or Heinz follows successful partnerships with these leading multinational food companies, and would allow the company to leverage its partner's distribution network to expand the brand's exposure.
Although the sale of 100% of the business will be considered, a part-sale is thought to be more likely due to the Pathak family's apparent desire to maintain some involvement.
The move reflects the company's desire to capitalize on the anticipated rise in demand for Indian cooking ingredients. Furthermore, chairman and chief executive Kirit Pathak said that the review was aimed at helping the business to become “the world's leading supplier of authentic Indian food”.
The Indian food company manufactures cooking sauces, curry pastes, chutnies, ready meals and snacks, and supplies more than 75% of Britain's Indian restaurants, according to the company. It also produces own-label products for leading grocery retailers.