Italians eye up bread maker Hovis with takeover bid

Bread maker Hovis could be snapped up by Italian firm Newlat Food after more than 130 years of British ownership. The baker's current owners, London-listed Premier Foods and US investment company Gores Group, have been approached by Newlat bosses with an offer which would make the Reggio Emilia-based company one of the largest players in the European food industry. Hovis employs 2,800 people and has eight bakeries, one flour mill and three distribution centres. It has had a string of owners over