Greencore has bought International Cuisine Limited, a private label chilled ready meal business, from the Hain Daniels Group in the UK.

ICL's ready meal facility is based in Consett in Co Durham.

Most of its revenue (approximately £45m) is derived from several existing Greencore ready meal customers.

Greencore said the company will provide additional capacity for it in the ready meals category in the UK, which continues to show strong growth.

The food group said the deal will be funded from existing debt facilities and will have a minimal impact on the group's leverage.

The food group said the deal will be funded from existing debt facilities and will have a minimal impact on the group's leverage.