Confectionery giant Cadbury has made a bid for Leaf International, the owner of Chewits sweets, according to press reports.

The confectioner is interested in snapping up the company’s Scandinavia and Benelux operations, which make up about three-quarters of its profits, according to the Sunday Times.

Other bidders are understood to include Italian confectionery giant Perfetti Van Melle, which owns Fruittella, Mentos and Chupa Chups.

Private equity groups CVC Capital and Nordic Capital bought Leaf in 2004 for $1.2bn. The Chewits brand was relaunched in the UK two weeks ago in a bid to appeal to older children that like sport.