LONDON (AFX) - The Spanish family behind Chupa Chups, the world's largest lollipop manufacturer, has hired advisors to explore a potential sale of the company, the Sunday Times reported without citing sources.
The Barnat family, Chupa Chups' controlling shareholder, is understood to have hired NM Rothschild, the investment bank to sound out potential buyers, the report said.
An auction is likely to attract interest from confectionary groups including Cadbury Schweppes, Mars and Hershey, it said.
Neither Chupa Chups nor Rothschild could be reached for comment by the newspaper.
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