Monsanto has been ordered to pay $289 million in damages over alleged links between weedkiller and cancer, knocking almost €9 billion off the value of its German owner yesterday (The Times £).

Shares in German pharmaceuticals and chemicals giant Bayer have plummeted after a man with terminal cancer successfully sued the firm’s newly acquired Monsanto subsidiary (Sky News). More than £8bn was wiped off the value of the German company behind Roundup after a court ruled the weedkiller caused cancer (The Daily Mail).

A thirst for British gin around the world has exporters toasting yet another year of record sales. Annual revenues of the spirit overseas have surpassed the £500million mark for the first time, according to the Wine And Spirit Trade Association. (The Daily Mail)

The family shareholders of Campbell Soup “have their work cut out” if they are going to keep hold of the group after activist investor Dan Loeb called for a sale. The FT’s Lex column writes: “Cambell Soup has become one of the most beleaguered large food companies in America. Millennials are eschewing its processed food and retail consolidation is squeezing its profit margins… If the rest of the family wants the company to remain in their hands they are going to have to step up their game just as their options are being reduced.” (The Financial Times £)

Supermarket chain Sainsbury’s is trialling its first “till-free” store, in which shoppers do not need to queue for a staffed or self-service checkout. (The BBC)

Backed by the government and major high street names, ‘Purple Tuesday’ will take place on Tuesday 13th November and will see retailers across the country - and online - introduce new measures to make the shopping experience more inclusive for customers who have both physical and hidden disabilities. Argos, Asda, Sainsbury’s, and Marks & Spencer are among those that have signed up to try to make shopping more inclusive. (Sky News)

The founder of the Wetherspoons pub chain says the company is reviewing the “whole range” of products it sources from the European Union in an attempt to find alternatives from Britain and non-EU countries. (The Times £)

The Telegraph’s Matthew Lynn says the Amazon tax should be sent to the recycle bin. He writes: “It is not the job of the Government to level up the playing field between online and physical retailers. Because it penalises the most successful, fastest-growing part of the economy. And, worst of all, because it will deter investment.” (The Telegraph £)

Writing in The Times (£) Nomura chief UK economist George Buckley warns that increased consumer indebtedness could become a problem. “High debts mean that its holders are susceptible to both rising interest rates and lower incomes… Retailers may not like to hear this but the advice should be: borrower beware.”

Budget retailer Poundland is launching its own skincare range as it looks to tap into what is tipped to become a £26.7billion beauty market in the UK. (The Daily Mail)

The Guardian looks at “how Dollar General took over rural America” as the chain opens stores at the rate of three a day across the US, often in the heart of ‘food deserts’. (The Guardian)

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