Thai Public Beverage Co has shown interest in acquiring the Marie Brizard drinks business from French firm Belvedere, according to a report.

ThaiBev is one of four potential suitors in the front-running for Marie Brizard, French business newspaper Les Echos reported today (2 March).

Neither company was immediately available for comment when contacted by just-drinks.

Belvedere, which owns Sobieski vodka, has agreed to sell off Marie Brizard as part of a range of assets sales designed to reduce company debt.

Reducing debt is the cornerstone of the firm's business strategy, as demanded by the French courts before allowing the company to emerge from bankruptcy protection.