A pair of award-winning Birmingham entrepreneurs yesterday revealed how they hope to buy Birmingham's HP Sauce factory.

Johngir and Babar Saddiq, owners of Big John's fast food chain, plan to approach Heinz, the brand's owners, after forming a consortium with a major bank.

Their aim is to ensure HP Sauce continues to be produced at its home in Aston, and save the jobs of 125 workers threatened with redundancy.

Big John's sells fish and chips, and the pair say the brown condiment would fit in perfectly with their existing business.

As reported in the Birmingham Post, earlier this week they won the prestigious Asian Jewel award for best entrepreneur, sponsored by Lloyds TSB.

Now they have formed a consortium with Habib Bank UK, with a view either to buying the brand outright or acquiring the right to produce it in Birmingham under licence from Heinz.

Johngir Saddiq said: "We are concerned that a lot of the food manufacturing and processing industry is now beginning to go overseas just like our major industries.

"This is causing a lot of unemployment and a knock-on effect to the economy in the West Midlands.

"We would like to retain this brand and its employees, whose livelihoods are dependent on the survival of the company."

Babar Saddiq said: "I cannot think of any household which does not use HP Sauce with their fish and chips.

"Both are great British traditions. We could possibly continue producing the product in the UK under licence from Heinz and also launch other sauce products to create further jobs.

"We have been in the fast food industry long enough to see what the customer wants.

"Customers love to dip their chips in HP Sauce or mayonnaise products. I cannot see why we cannot use this trend and develop other dips and sauces alongside the HP brand."