Northants based confectionery firm Ashbury Confectionery is in discussions to purchase Hull based sweet maker Needler Blue Bird, which was put in the market earlier this year by Singapore parent Jack Chia-MPH. Ashbury md Mario Gianotta confirmed that talks began about a month ago and said the deal would include Needler's French subsidiaries Frabel, Kesteroot and Société Européene de Confiserie (SEC). Needler makes toffee under the Jersey brand, sugar confectionery under the Siesta brand for the wholesale sector and a range of own label bon bons, sweets and pastilles for the multiples. Ashbury is a supplier of own label chocolate confectionery to major UK and European retailers. {{NEWS }}