Marmite maker Unilever in talks to merge food business with US-based McCormick

Anglo-Dutch company, which also owns Dove and Hellmann’s, will focus more on personal care products if deal agreed

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Unilever, the owner of Marmite, Dove and Hellmann’s mayonnaise, is in talks to combine its food business with the US-based spice and seasoning maker McCormick.

The Anglo-Dutch food company – which last year spun off its ice-cream division, the home to Ben & Jerry’s, Magnum and Wall’s – has entered discussions over the future of the “highly attractive” business.