Italian chocolate group Ferrero is considering joining the battle for Cadbury and tabling a takeover offer, it was claimed today.

The firm behind Ferrero Rocher is understood to have reiterated its interest in Cadbury after the Birmingham chocolate giant set out its robust defence against a hostile offer from America’s Kraft earlier this month.

Italian newspaper La Stampa has re-ported that Ferrero issued a statement confirming it was still evaluating the possibility of acquiring the British sweets group.

Family-owned Ferrero, which also makes Nutella spread and Tic Tacs, was not available for comment today, but has already said it is considering its options for Cadbury after Kraft first disclosed its takeover plans.

Bournville-based Cadbury, which employs around 2,400 people in the West Midlands, is fighting a hostile takeover bid from Philadelphia cheese spread and Toblerone chocolate maker Kraft, which has offered around £10.2 billion to buy the group.

In a defence document issued in mid-December, Cadbury accused Kraft of trying to buy it on the cheap.

It warned shareholders not to let Kraft “steal your company with its derisory offer” as it sought to underline its prospects as an independent company by upping long-term performance targets and saying profit margins for the current year were expected to be higher than original guidance. As well as Ferrero in Italy, US chocolate maker Hershey is also said to be mulling over a move for Cadbury.

But any Hershey deal is widely expected to be a “white knight” offer to spoil a Kraft takeover and Cadbury is thought to have recently discussed the possibility of a friendly tie-up with Hershey.

The groups already have a business relationship as Hershey holds a licence to make Dairy Milk bars and Creme Eggs in the United States.

The prospect of a US takeover of the historic Birmingham business has already seen workers and union leaders protesting outside the Bournville factory.

The Unite union, which represents many of the firm’s 6,000 workers at sites across the UK and Ireland, believes shareholders should say no to selling up.

It has also set up a petition at www.welovecadbury.com to gather more mass support for its campaign to keep the chocolate company independent.

Meanwhile Kraft’s approach, worth around 725p a share, is also seen as being far short of the 850p analysts believe Cadbury can fetch.

It was dismissed by the group’s board as being wholly inadequate and Cadbury shares were today trading at 794p.

Investors have until Tuesday to decide on the Kraft bid, with the whole process subject to a 60-day timetable under takeover rules.