Pinnacle Foods Inc. (NYSE:PF) is reportedly the front runner in the $2 billion sale of Ragu brand by Unilever NV (ENXTAM:UNA). Unilever's Ragu could be paired with Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE:HRL) and The J. M. Smucker Company (NYSE:SJM) prepare for an auction of the pasta sauce, people with knowledge of the matter said. Also considering a bid for Ragu are The Hillshire Brands Company (NYSE:HSH); Pennexx Foods Inc. (OTCPK:PNNX); Mizkan Co., Ltd.; and Post Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:POST) , the people said, asking not to be identified as the information is private.

With first round bids for Ragu, which may fetch as much as $2 billion, due at the end of next week, all of the potential buyers have contacted banks to discuss their interest, the people said. According to Blolomberg, Jaime Stein, a spokeswoman for Unilever, declined to comment on the Ragu sale as did representatives for Hormel, Smucker and Pinnacle. Spokesmen for Hillshire, Post and Mizkan Americas did not reply to e-mail messages or phone calls seeking comment.