The Issa brothers, who built up a petrol station empire from an industrial estate in Blackburn, are among potential bidders for Asda.
They join a list that includes US firm Lone Star Funds and private equity houses Apollo and TDR Capital.
Zuber and Mohsin Issa, the billionaire founders of EG Group, are said to be considering a bid for the supermarket which is being put on the market by Walmart.
EG Group, which has 5,200 sites and annual sales of £12bn, will face stiff competition from the private equity as well as from Lone Star Funds, which buys distressed and property-focused businesses.
Lone Star’s interest is likely to lie in Asda property portfolio. Asda owns 75% of the freeholds to its 639 supermarkets.
