An East Anglian poultry producer is hoping to beef up its operations after taking over a London-based food producer.

Gressingham Foods, the biggest supplier of duck to the UK retail sector, has acquired JF Edwards (Smithfield), one of the longest established businesses on the capital's Smithfield Market.

As part of the deal, the Woodbridge-based company has acquired the ongoing business of four shops on Smithfield Market and a butchers shop in Primrose Hill.

The deal has seen the creation of a new company within the Gressingham group, Gressingham Smithfield.

Co-owner William Buchanan said the two companies had a long association and that the acquisition was a 'very natural fit'.

'We see this as an excellent opportunity to grow the Gressingham business and provides the opportunity to diversify into new markets,' he said.