McVitie's disgestive busicuit are a British household name that could soon come under Chinese influenceThe maker of Jaffa Cakes and McVitie's Digestive - iconic British brands loved by generations - appears set to fall into Chinese hands.
United Biscuits(UB) is the subject of a £2.5billion takeover by the giant Bright Food group, which is run by a branch of the Chinese state.
The deal would represent the first major takeover of a British food group by the Chinese and would be a further hammer blow to the UK's manufacturing heritage.
Other much-loved United brands that would be lost to Chinese ownership include Twiglets, Hula Hoops, mini-cheddars, Penguin and HobNobs.
The company, which also owns Jacobs and Carrs, can trace its roots back to 1830Previously, Britain's motor industry, water companies, power suppliers, airports and sea ports have been snapped up by eager foreign purchasers.
Snack appeal: Just a few of the United Biscuits products that the Chinese are finding to their likingNews of the deal comes just ten months after another quintessentially British food group, Cadbury, was bought by the US giant Kraft, triggering a furious backlash from consumers, workers and politicians.However, it is only now that Chinese companies are using their vast financial muscle to target household name UK firms.
The development will bring uncertainty for UB's 7,000 employees who work out of 11 factories across the country from Glasgow to Liverpool.
Prince Charles, centre, visiting the the United Biscuits Factory at Harlesden in 1979
Another royal visit to the Harlesden factory, this time by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in 1983Alan Black, the GMB's national organiser for the food industry, said: 'It is important that these British brands continue to be manufactured in this country.
'There has been huge uncertainty around the future of UB, which has been very difficult for the workers.'We would hope that whoever buys the company remains committed to manufacturing in this country and at the very least maintains the existing pay and conditions
source: dailymail
