Anglo-Dutch foods and consumer goods group Unilever has invited private equity bidders to submit tentative offers for its $8bn margarine and spreads business by 19 October, two sources close to the matter have told Reuters.

The sale of the businesses started in late September with Unilever’s banks sending out confidential information to buyout funds, the sources said.

The company confirmed it is planning to sell its margarine activities in April, two months after an abortive takeover attempt by Kraft Heinz of the US in February.

Unilever was formed in 1930 through the merger of British soap maker Lever Brothers and Nederlandse Margarine Unie. The group has a single management and supervisory board but separate Dutch and British bases.