Ferrero bids £112 million for Thorntons

Ferrero, the maker of Nutella spread, has offered to buy British chocolate company Thorntons for £112 million (€157 million), a rare acquisition by the Italian group.

The deal, backed by the board of Thorntons, brings together two of Europe's best-known chocolate makers. It marks the first move by the maker of Ferrero Rocher pralines since the death of its patriarch Michele Ferrero earlier this year.

Ferrero's death rekindled speculation about a possible takeover ...