The Competition and Markets Authority is delaying publishing its initial findings on the merger of Sainsbury’s and Asda from early next month to early February. The watchdog said that the change to the timetable was unrelated to the legal action under way and that its final statutory deadline to make a ruling still remained March 5. (The Times £)

Fears are growing that Britain’s retail industry is on course for a miserable Christmas that could trigger a slew of high street collapses (The Times £).

Sports Direct boss, Mike Ashley, has warned that Debenhams and other big retail names faced being “smashed to pieces” by a savage high street downturn this Christmas as Brexit worries put the brakes on spending (The Guardian). Mike Ashley said Christmas shopping has been so bad for retailers that it “will literally smash them to pieces”, in a dire warning that sent shares in his Sports Direct chain sharply lower and spread more gloom on UK high streets (The Financial Times £).

Ocado said yesterday that it was looking forward to its best ever Christmas, despite uncertain consumer sentiment and a turbulent political and economic landscape (The Times £). Ocado - one of the footsie’s star performers this year - is toasting a strong final quarter as it reaps the benefits of two, new robotic warehouses (The Daily Mail)

It delivered the goods but Ocado’s work is not yet over, writes The Telegraph. “There’s no glee quite like the glee of saying “I told you so”. Imagine how Ocado boss Tim Steiner must feel after boasting of a “transformative” year in which the online retailer dealt its critics a bloody nose.” (The Telegraph)

The FT writes: “With the UK online grocery business slowing lately, analysts had said it would be important to see Ocado ramping up for the future. Its investment suggests it has been doing that: putting money into distribution centre technology is important because those centres are key to longer-term capacity growth.” (The Financial Times £)

The boss of drinks titan Pernod Ricard has defended his firm as it comes under attack from a notorious vulture fund. Alexandre Ricard said that the family-backed company will stick by its plans to invest in its international operations. (The Daily Mail)

Sky News writes: “industry-watchers wonder whether Elliott’s logic stacks up. For a start, while it is true that Pernod Ricard is less of a business than Diageo, it is only two-thirds the size of its British rival. The ‘economies of scale’, in the jargon, may not be there. And Mr Ricard has in any case taken an axe to the company’s costs since he became chief executive.” (Sky News)

One of Lancaster’s oldest family-owned pub and brewery groups has gone into administration, taking another local brewer with it. Mitchell’s of Lancaster and York Brewery have been placed in administration – the pair employ about 170 people and will continue to work while a buyer is sought. (The Times £)

Starbucks is teaming up with Uber to offer coffee delivery from 2,000 of its US outlets as it pushes for new sources of sales in its domestic market in the face of declining expectations for long-term earnings growth. (The Financial Times £)

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