A total of four companies are understood to be looking at possible bids for New Zealand-based horticultural company Turners & Growers, Eurofruit understands.
Sources close to the company indicated this week that two of the four apparent bids can be described as 'serious'.
Eurofruit has also learnt that at least one of those two expressions of interest has come from a European group already working in the fresh produce business.
Another source told Eurofruit that representatives from this potential buyer were in New Zealand last week in order to get a first-hand view of T&G assets.
Interested parties have until the end of September 2011 to lodge any bid for T&G officially.
Investment company Guinness Peat Group (GPG), which owns 66 per cent of T&G, announced back in February that it planned to sell the company along with all but one of its assets, thread maker Coats.
T&G later appointed Goldman Sachs & Partners to assist with a strategic review of the group aimed at 'unlocking value' for its shareholders.
In April, T&G said it believed its current share price was not a true reflection of the company's value, not least given the investment the group had made in growing operations and proprietary varieties that were yet to mature.
The T&G group incorporates a number of major companies in the fruit business, including Enza, Delica and Kerifresh.
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