Australia’s Foodland Up For Sale

Melbourne, Australia, Australian grocer Foodland Associated Ltd. put itself up for sale after Metcash Trading Ltd. made a hostile bid for the company, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Foodland is in discussions with several other suitors.

Foodland may consider selling its New Zealand assets separately. The grocer previously had announced plans to spin off its plum New Zealand business by August. Australian retail bruisers Coles Myer Ltd. and Woolworths Ltd. are rumored to be interested in Foodland’s New Zealand business, but both have declined comment.