Premier Foods, which owns Hovis bread, Branston pickle and Quorn, is in talks with private equity groups over a cash injection in the latest move to shore up its balance sheet.

The group, whose debt reached £1.8bn at the end of June, is likely to make an announcement today confirming the discussions, although it is expected to stress that no deal was imminent. Prospective investors include CCMP, the former private equity arm of JPMorgan.