Sainsbury’s has acknowledged that regulators could scupper the British supermarket group’s proposed merger with rival Asda, while seeking to win their support by telling them how much the deal could benefit consumers. The Competition and Markets Authority could announce as soon as this week that it will proceed directly to an in-depth probe of the transaction (The Financial Times £).

The boss of Tesco has warned that if the government does not reform business rates soon it will have contributed to the decline of high streets across Britain. Dave Lewis, chief executive of the country’s largest supermarkets group, said: “A decision not to reform business rates by the government will be a statement of policy.” (The Times £)

The chairman of John Lewis has ­rejected growing calls for online retailers to be hit with a so-called “Amazon tax”, instead urging traditional players to adapt more quickly. Sir Charlie Mayfield said he “struggled” with the belief that internet companies should be penalised because they have managed to carve out a leaner business model. (The Telegraph)

The John Lewis Partnership made more than 1,800 people redundant in the year to the end of June, nearly three times the level in the previous year, as it cut costs amid a profits slump. (The Guardian)

The John Lewis Partnership may be forced to take a £50 million hit to profits after enduring an epidemic of price cuts over the summer. The frenzied discounting was triggered by the collapse of rival House of Fraser – and by rival chains including Debenhams battling for customers. (The Daily Mail)

Coca-Cola is firming up another multibillion-pound move for a famous drinks brand with a bid for GlaxoSmithKline’s Horlicks business in India. Kellogg’s, Unilever, Reckitt Benckiser, Kraft Heinz, Nestle and US private equity outfit KKR have all registered interest in the malted milk drink. (The Telegraph)

The fall in shoppers accelerated last month as hot weather left retailers sweating. Last month ’ visits to bricks-and-mortar stores fell by 1.6 per cent compared with the same month a year ago, according to figures produced for the British Retail Consortium, twice as big a fall as in July. (The Times £)

Beleaguered high street shops are braced for a brutal festive trading season as internet sales hit new highs and traditional stores struggle to cope. Dark clouds are gathering over the high street as it faces what top retail sources are calling the ‘toughest Christmas ever’. (The Daily Mail)

Former Just Eat employees have accused the company of failing to stamp out sexism and harassment in the workplace, after management were made aware of incidents. (The Telegraph)

Greggs has caused consternation by daring to open an outlet in the land of the Cornish pasty when its own pasties do not qualify for the famous food designation. (The Guardian)

Casino’s shares fell again after S&P cut the French supermarket group’s credit rating into what commentators called “junk territory”. That is potentially concerning for partner Ocado and comes hot on the heels of a high-value share sale from the Steiner Millennium Trust — a family trust of which Ocado boss Tim Steiner is a beneficiary — in Ocado stock to the tune of £50m, as the trust attempts to diversify its holdings. (The Financial Times £)

Food giants including Sainsbury’s, Mondelez and Nestlé shelled out more than £10m on licences to use the Fairtrade logo in the UK last year amid booming sales of “ethical” wine, ice cream and chocolate. (The Telegraph)

The English whisky maker that holds the world record for the most expensive bottle of whisky from a new distillery is planning to raise £15 million via a stock market flotation. (The Times £)

Greene King is keeping a lid on optimism despite bouncing back from a profit downgrade this time last year that took the fizz out of its share price. (The Times £)

Higher profits at pub operator JD Wetherspoon could result in glasses being raised this week after the chain was given a lift by the summer heatwave. (The Daily Mail)

One of Britain’s biggest brewers has attacked the definition of craft beer — one of the fastest-growing and hippest trends in the drinks industry — claiming that it unfairly excludes some of its best-known brands. Marston’s, which makes beers including Pedigree, Hobgoblin and Brakspear, operates six breweries, but by virtue of its scale is often dismissed as a brewer of mass-produced beers rather than craft brews. (The Times £)

Wall Street has taken an axe to forecasts for dozens of US retailers, renewing questions about their profitability even as consumer spending buoys sales. (The Financial Times £)

Markus Joose plays the blame game over Steinhoff collapse, claiming ignorance over accounting woes that almost sank the retailer. (The Times £)

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