Mars, Nestle interested in chocolate maker Gu - FT

LONDON Aug 3 (Reuters) - Food groups Nestle (NESN.VX) and Mars are among the companies interested in London-based chocolate dessert maker Gu, which has been put up for sale by its founders, the Financial Times reported.

The paper, which did not cite sources, said private equity firms including Langholm Capital were interested in the company, whose asking price is 30-40 million pounds ($50-$65 million).

Cavendish Corporate Finance, which is advising Gu, sent details to interested parties last month and aims to complete a sale by autumn, the paper added.

Gu has increased sales by an average of 66 percent a year since it was founded six years ago, the paper said. A Nestle spokesman declined to comment, while Mars, Gu and Langholm could not be reached for comment. ($1=.6045 British pound)

(Reporting by Laurence Fletcher; Editing by Richard Chang)