Unilever and Nestle have both declined to comment on reports they may be interested in buying Belgian Icecream Group (BIG), Belgian’s largest ice cream maker.

According to reports in Belgium, local holding company NPM/CNP plans to sell the ice cream business.

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Belgian daily De Tijd reported the potential sale on Saturday (6 March) and cited Unilever and Nestle as potential buyers.

Merchant bank Banca Leonardo, in which CNP has a 19.5% stake, has been mandated to handle the transaction, De Tijd said, without specifying how much the sale could raise.

BIG is Belgium’s biggest ice cream producer with a reported turnover of EUR88m (US$119.5m) in 2008.

When contacted by just-food today, both Unilever and Nestle said they would not comment on rumours or speculation.

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Officials at BIG could not be reached for immediate comment.

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