UNILEVER has sold its John West Foods subsidiary that specialises in canned fish to HJ Heinz for an undisclosed sum. The business will be merged with Heinz's existing canned food businesses but the company said it was too early to say whether there would be any job losses as a result.

John West Foods, which is based in Liverpool and sells mainly in Britain and Ireland, employs 88 people and last year achieved sales of Pounds 150 million.

"We will undertake a fundamental review of the business," a spokesman for Heinz said.

Heinz chairman, Dr Tony O'Reilly said: "The addition of the John West product line to our European grocery business is another key step in Project Millennia, Heinz's reorganisation and growth plan aimed at strengthening our six global categories."