Shoppers are paying a record 10.6% more for food than they were a year ago, figures show (Sky News). Food inflation has hit its highest rate on record with shoppers now paying 10.6% more than they were a year ago, figures have revealed, while fresh food prices are up 12.1% (Daily Mail). Food prices rose at their fastest rate on record in September, with products like margarine getting more expensive, the British Retail Consortium says (BBC).

A senior, long-running executive at Morrisons who was tipped to be the supermarket chain’s next boss has quit. Trevor Strain, the chief operating officer of Morrisons, has told the board he plans to step down, having helped lead the grocer through the Covid crisis. (The Times £)

Soft drinks group AG Barr boosted dividends after reporting surging profits as sales rose despite passing higher costs onto customers. (Daily Mail)

The continued recovery in travel has helped SSP lift its full-year profit guidance but trading in the UK has lagged parts of Europe and the United States. (The Times £)

The decision to add a second Prime Day shopping event, however, is less about subscriber benefits than the need for extra ecommerce revenue. Slowing sales growth and high spending have resulted in a share price drop that leaves the company trading about a third below its average forward Ebitda multiple. (Financial Times £)

US coffee shops and grocery stores, in a quest to beat Starbucks at its own game, have started rolling out their pumpkin spice products earlier and earlier in August. Increasingly unlikely and downright gross products now offer pumpkin spice options, including bone broth protein, deodorant and poppers. There’s nothing that can’t be pumpkined. (The Guardian)

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