European food companies are expecting no let-up in the volume of private equity investment in the industry. Almost half the 56 senior European food company executives surveyed in a report published last week by research company Mergermarket said they expected the role and influence of private equity to increase.

The majority of the remainder said the situation would remain the same and there would be another 35 to 40 deals in the sector this year, even if deal activity only continued at its present rate. Only 7% of those interviewed predicted a decrease in activity.