Tyrrells crisps are up for grabs at £100m

Tyrrells, the maker of crisps loved by Middle England, has whetted the appetite of private-equity firms to buy the business for about £100m.

Langholm Capital acquired Tyrrells in a deal worth £40m in 2008 but has since expanded its wholesale operations into far-flung countries from India to China.

The private-equity firm, which is backed by the consumer goods giant Unilever, has teamed up with corporate finance advisers at McQueen to sell the company. The sales memorandum was sent out to potential suitors last week, and first-round bids are due next month for Herefordshire-based Tyrrells.

Founded in 2002, the maker of hand-cooked crisps operates in more than 20 countries, with its biggest markets outside the UK being the US, Canada, France and Germany. All parties declined to comment.