Sainsbury is set for a major shake-up under new chairman Martin Scicluna if its £14bn merger with Asda is blocked, analysts have warned. Research by investment bank Jefferies suggested Asda would be snapped up by a private equity buyer if the merger does not go ahead, with its US owner Walmart keen to make a quick exit from the UK. And it said Sainsbury would be forced into a major overhaul as it loses further ground to arch rival Tesco. (The Daily Mail)

Brexit threatens to disrupt the system designed to crack down on faulty and dangerous consumer goods, a UK campaign group has warned as it revealed that the number of complaints across the EU had risen by one-third in the past decade. (The Financial Times £)

Greggs boss Roger Whiteside has been handed the rights to shares worth £658,000 under a bonus scheme. Whiteside took charge of Greggs in 2013 and has presided over a near-quadrupling in its share price through a combination of store openings and savvy marketing campaigns. (The Daily Mail)

Poundland chief Andy Bond has given an upbeat message for the high street in The Daily Mail. He is convinced there is light at the end of the tunnel for bricks and mortar shops and that e-retailers will be hit by soaring costs of new technology. (The Daily Mail)

More than one in five post offices could disappear over the next 12 months as the often self-employed postmasters struggle to earn a living amid lower wages and falling customer demand, according to a survey of 1,000 post office workers by the National Federation of SubPostmasters. (The Guardian)

Online retail giant Amazon’s website is flooded with fake five-star reviews for products from unfamiliar brands, consumer group Which? has claimed. Top-rated reviews on popular items such as headphones, smart watches and fitness trackers were dominated by unknown brands, its probe concluded. (The BBC)

The European Union has given final clearance for trade talks to begin with the US, despite differences on climate and agriculture policies. The European Commission, which coordinates trade policy for the union, approved negotiations on two tracks: one to cut tariffs on industrial goods, the other making it easier for companies to show their products meet EU or US standards. (Sky News)

The operator of the Channel tunnel has shrugged off pre-Brexit jitters and a work-to-rule by French customs officers to record its best month for lorries travelling on Le Shuttle. (The Times £)

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