UK-based branded foods manufacturer, Big Bear - which owns Honey Monster Foods - has announced its intention to float on AIM.

Following admission, the company directors intend to continue to grow Big Bear through a focus on further development of its existing brands and, where appropriate, they may acquire further underperforming heritage food brands.

Big Bear acquired the business assets of Honey Monster Foods from PepsiCo International in 2006 - recently the firm has been working with Start Licensing to expand the Honey Monster brand out of the grocery aisles and into the world of licensing.

As a company, Big Bear's sales have grown almost fourfold in the last five years from less than £14 million in the year to August 31st 2004 to £53 million in the year to August 31st 2009.

"We are very excited about bringing our portfolio of instantly recognisable food brands to the market as we continue to extend and develop them," said John Jackson, joint chairman of Big Bear. "We believe that the flotation will increase our flexibility to access capital markets, raise our profile and enable us to acquire further interesting, but forgotten and under-utilised brands as attractive opportunities are identified."

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