Premier Foods is to be floated on the stock market. The UK food group whose brands include Typhoo Tea and Branston Pickle is valued at around £1.3bn.

Premier Foods is owned by private equity group Hicks, Muse, Tate and Furst. The US group has appointed Merrill Lynch to float the company as soon as possible.

Hicks Muse have yet to confirm whether they intend to incorporate their other food businesses Weetabix and Burton’s Food into Premier before the float. Such a move would bring Premier Foods value closer to £2bn.