The board of mutually-owned convenience store supplier Londis says it has unanimously decided to begin negotiations on a sale of the business after a strategic review launched late last year.
The review was undertaken after number of parties approached the group with proposals, including Irish food group Musgrave, and Iceland chain owner Big Food Group .
Rival convenience store suppliers Costcutter and Nisa-Today's, which wanted to merge with Londis, also came up with proposals.
Industry sources said the Co-op and Somerfield were also interested.
