Talks to sell UK-based snack group United Biscuits to China’s Bright Food are “effectively dead”, the Wall Street Journal has reported.

Citing sources familiar with the situation, the WSJ said last night (26 October) that discussions between Bright Food and United Biscuits’ private-equity owners were “near collapse”.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

Blackstone and PAI Partners had started exclusive talks with Bright Food on a deal that was estimated at around US$3.2bn.

The WSJ said it was uncertain what had damaged the talks but sources told the newspaper that Bright Food had become interested in nutrition retail chain GNC, which is reportedly looking for buyers.

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact