Completion of the deal is expected within the next six weeks pending approval by the French competition authorities. If Geest gets the all clear, it will become the third largest player in the French prepared salads business. The business, which operates as Crudi, has two well equipped sites in France and Spain and turned over ?52million last year.

'The acquisition of Crudi will expand or position in prepared salads in France,' said Geest ceo Gareth Voyle. 'It furthers our European strategy and should provide benefits through procurement and processing and has the potential to deliver new opportunities for us in Spain.'