British retailer at the heart of groceries and general merchandise
A government-backed initiative argues that tackling sickness absence will unlock growth. More employers are signing up to track returns-to-work and disability participation, with potential to cut welfare costs as policy debates continue.
Gatwick Airport is experiencing a continued water supply disruption due to a power outage at a local treatment works. Bottled water is being distributed and contingency measures are in place as authorities work to restore normal service across both terminals.
The Federal Communications Commission has added "advanced robotic devices" — including humanoid robots, four‑legged machines and some connected power inverters — to a list that blocks new foreign-made models from US markets on national‑security and cybersecurity grounds. The rule has taken effect for models not yet authorised; existing authorised devices remain allowed while exemptions can be requested.
Greggs has reported a 7.2% rise in half-year sales to £1.1bn, driven by 34 net new stores and a shifted focus to higher-protein salads and iced beverages. Pre-tax profit has jumped about 20% to £76m as it expands formats and maintains price stability amid inflation; the chain is also trialling Greggs Express in petrol forecourts.
A coalition including supermarkets, charities and farming bodies warns the UK food system faces future shocks as production falls and imports rise. They call for a legally binding Good Food Bill to improve national food security, nutrition and resilience, citing higher prices, climate risks and biodiversity loss.
Sainsbury’s has agreed to sell Argos and the Habitat brand to Swift Partners. The deal will complete in February 2027 with full separation by 2029. Argos will continue to operate normally during the transition, and staff will transfer to Swift. The move allows Sainsbury’s to focus on its core groceries business.
Nathan Owen has been jailed for four years and three months after fabricating a car-acceleration emergency to avoid a finance agreement. Police pursued the Jaguar I-Pace across multiple motorways, but investigations showed the car was functioning and speeds reached up to 86mph before it was stopped.
BP has reported a bumper quarter under new CEO Meg O’Neill, with underlying replacement cost profit surging and plans to sell its US Archaea biogas unit as part of a broader strategy to simplify the portfolio and boost shareholder value.
UK farmers warn of a strained harvest as a dry, hot July tests crops; while growers embrace warmer English summers for wine, pressures on supplies and pricing rise. Wildfires in France threaten rosé quality; vineyards test batches and some produce may be unsellable. Across Europe, heat waves drive shifts in farming and food supply.
The CMA has provisionalised rules to stop big grocers from blocking rival stores. Aldi and Lidl are now included in the land-use restrictions, alongside Asda, Co-op, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose. Final decision expected in October.
Ralph Lauren has delivered better-than-expected earnings and revenue, pushing shares higher. CEO Patrice Louvet has steered the brand toward growth through brand elevation, new product lines, and a focus on full-price selling in key markets.
Target has pulled a children’s Halloween costume and has apologised after critics said the product and its promotional image evoked Jim Crow–era minstrel caricatures. The retailer has deleted the listing, opened an internal review and said the item "should never have been part of our assortment," while activists and some analysts have renewed boycott calls and warned of reputational fallout.
Across multiple providers, gift cards and rewards are being offered to entice new customers to switch, with prices and speeds varying by address. Readers are urged to evaluate total costs, not just headline offers, and to check terms like contract length and price rises.
Inditex’s Lefties opens its first UK store in Liverpool, featuring robotics to sort clothes and a new online-first proposition. The move, part of a broader UK expansion, targets a budget-conscious segment and faces competition from Primark, Shein and others. The retailer plans more UK outlets based on early performance.
New USDA-led research has found that farmed salmon have substantially lower levels of omega‑3 fatty acids than older estimates. The drop reflects a shift in salmon feed from wild fish to terrestrial oils and crops such as soy and canola. That change has linked nutrition losses to broader environmental harm from expanded soy production.
Developments on equal pay re-emerge as talks turn to universal basic income and alternative compensation models. Public debate centers on feasibility, incentives, and how to balance fairness with initiative.
Independent and Reuters reports show UK food inflation remains elevated amid geopolitical disruption, drought and energy costs. Forecasts wait on official data; producers urge relief to ease rising bills for households.
Channel 4’s Apocalypse puts 14 strangers in an abandoned Indiana town to survive 28 days with scarce resources. Two camps, tense leadership struggles, and board-up supermarkets mark the early days of the social experiment.
A wave of grocery testing shows premium labels and own-brand options are colliding on shelves. Independent taste tests highlight best buys in olive oil, pizza, and dressings as prices rise and harvests shift, pressuring shoppers to weigh quality against cost.
Lidl GB has reported a 10% rise in sales to over £13bn, with pre-tax profit up 30% to £245.5m as shoppers chase cheaper meat, fruit and veg and new Deluxe range. Aldi faces scrutiny over loyalty schemes as it expands stores and price cuts amid inflation and supply-chain concerns.
The Guardian and Reuters report that Sainsbury’s has walked away from talks with Morrisons over a multibillion-pound merger. The CMA’s latest stance on Aldi and Lidl shelves shifts could influence future deals, with analysts noting Sainsbury’s could snap up a rival without triggering immediate competition concerns. Talks remain open to restart in the future.
The EU’s top trade official has been in Beijing for high-stakes talks with China amid a widening EU-China trade surplus. EU officials are pressing China to curb hybrid car exports and to reach proactive measures to rebalance trade, while China signals a restrained response. Negotiations continue with a plan to deliver tangible results by October.