American food group Campbell Soup Company is understood to be planning a £1.5bn break-up bid for a stake in Britain's United Biscuits.

Campbell plans to acquire United's biscuit-making operations which include Penguin chocolate bars, Jaffa Cakes, McVitie's Digestives, Rich Tea and HobNobs biscuits. According to reports, Campbell has approached the US boutique investment bank, Centerview Partners, for advice on launching the bid.

Last month, United's private equity owners Blackstone, and French buyout specialists PAI Partners, formally put up the company for sale and hired investment banks Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan for the task. Reuters had reported an expected selling price of £2bn.

The Sunday Times reported that United owners were open to separate offers for the biscuit division, the snacks unit and their North European operations, to attract bidders given the general lack of interest in the company as a whole.

Among potential buyers of United are Kraft, Pepsico and Kellogg as well as several Asian competitors.