Burton’s Biscuits, the St Albans-based manufacturer, is reported to be in the early stages of talks to buy Fox’s Biscuits from Boparan Holdings.

Two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters of the deal, which comes after last month’s speculation that Boparan Holdings was looking to sell the biscuit company, following a difficult financial period.

The sale is being advised by Rothschild, and could value the company at £340m, although the sources stressed that no deal was certain.

It is reported that the Canadian Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (COTPP), which bought Burton’s Biscuits in 2013, has been looking to grow the business organically and through acquisition. COTPP has long been linked with the potential purchase of Fox’s, after it lost out to Yildiz Holding to buy United Biscuits.

Burton’s Biscuits recently announced it was relaunching its Cadbury Fingers range with three new SKUs.