Britain’s biggest retailer is preparing to kick off a search for a new chairman, firing the starting gun on a race to fill one of the FTSE-100’s most prestigious boardroom posts. Tesco is drawing up plans to begin identifying a replacement for John Allan, who will step down in 2024. (Sky News)

Manufacturing will fall into a deep recession next year as the global economic downturn erodes demand, manufacturers have warned. (The Times £)

The economy grew by 0.5% in October after contracting the previous month when an extra Bank Holiday for the Queen’s funeral suppressed growth (The Times £). The economy returned to growth in October, according to early official figures which experts suggest could be the last to show expansion for some time (Sky News). The UK economy shrank between August and October as the country heads into an expected recession (The BBC).

In the face of a cost of living crisis, shoppers are looking for ways to trim their Christmas bills — which means the German discounters Aldi and Lidl are well placed to secure even more of the festive bounty on offer this year. (The Times £)

Getir, the Istanbul-based online grocery start-up, has closed its acquisition of German rival Gorillas in a deal that values the combined group at $10bn, as consolidation in the rapid delivery app market accelerates. (The Financial Times £)

The US private equity owner of Morrisons has raised £220m from the sale and leaseback of seven warehouses amid concerns over the UK supermarket group’s debt mountain. (The Guardian)

Mars has embarked on a drive to convince developing country consumers to eat more chocolate, claiming it is on track to double the value of its confectionery sales in emerging markets in the five years to 2024. (The Financial Times £)

Disruption to global supply chains and economic uncertainty led independent retailers to order Christmas stock earlier and in smaller volumes, the co-founder of a fast-growing online wholesale marketplace has said. (The Times £)

For decades, the I Camisa deli has been at the heart of the community in London’s West End since opening in 1929 to sell speciality produce including imported meats and cheeses. News of the impending closure has led to an outpouring of support, with about 4,000 people signing a petition calling on the Labour-run Westminster city council to engage with Shaftesbury, the real estate investment trust that owns the building, to find a solution. (The Guardian)

Clive Watson, boss of the City Pub Company, has slammed the barrage of rail strikes due this week as ‘mean-spirited’. He said the walkouts could be the ‘end of the road’ for businesses still struggling in the wake of the pandemic. (The Daily Mail)

Primark is opening 10 shops before Christmas in a major boost for the ailing High Street. (The Daily Mail)

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