The manufacturers of the UK’s three biggest coffee pod brands have joined forces to set up the sector’s first national recycling scheme, in the face of a backlash against single-serve capsules, many of which end up in landfill. Nespresso and Nescafé Dolce Gusto owner Nestlé and Tassimo maker Jacobs Douwe Egberts are next year launching the first system to make it easier and more convenient for consumers to recycle pods. (The Guardian)

The most eagerly anticipated UK console launch in years descended into chaos and acrimony on Thursday as retailers sold out of PlayStation 5 consoles almost immediately (The Financial Times £). Games retailers have been overwhelmed by demand for the latest Sony PlayStation console, which launched in the UK on Thursday (The Guardian). Tesco, John Lewis, Currys and Game websites crashed after they were unable to cope with demand for the £449 console (The Times £). Gamers hoping to buy a PlayStation 5 on its release day have been met by long queues and crashing websites as retailers struggle to cope with demand (Sky News).

Naked Wines said people were buying their festive supplies early as the online retailer sold out of its deluxe Christmas collection cases within 24 hours (The Times £). Naked Wines unveiled surging half-year sales as demand for its mail-order wine subscriptions soared during the pandemic (The Telegraph).

Worsening wildfires in Australia and California are becoming a challenge for online retailer, Naked Wines, which is having to seek out winemakers from more countries and test grapes for “smoke taint” (The Financial Times £). Naked Wines is having to routinely test grapes for smoke damage in California as worsening wildfires linked to the climate crisis cause problems for growers (The Guardian).

Marks & Spencer will keep 400 stores open until midnight in Christmas week as desperate high street retailers scramble to recoup billions of pounds of sales lost to lockdown restrictions (The Guardian). Marks & Spencer is planning to open most of its stores until midnight in the run-up to Christmas to allow shoppers and staff “the time and space they need to social distance” (Sky News).

Many UK food manufacturers are planning to stop supplying Northern Ireland once the Brexit transition period ends on 1 January, industry experts warn. (Sky News)

Supermarkets are the most common places that people have visited in the days leading up to a positive coronavirus test reported to the Test and Trace app in England, new data suggests. (Sky News)

Morrison was one of the few winners on a dreary day in the City after Goldman Sachs took a surprise liking to Britain’s fourth-largest supermarket chain. Goldman has been a long-time seller of Morrisons shares but it performed an about-turn and is telling its clients to pile in and buy the stock. (The Times £)

More than one-third of Britain’s hospitality industry could collapse over winter as England’s second lockdown combined with the Welsh “circuit-breaker” and restrictions in Scotland and Northern Ireland combine to deal a fatal blow to businesses (The Telegraph). More than a third of hospitality firms say they have little or no confidence of surviving the next three months, according to data collected by the Office for National Statistics (The BBC).

UK households are expected to have spent £6,600 less this year after the pandemic slashed demand for holidays, eating out and transport, according to new research. (Sky News)

Consumer confidence deteriorated this month as the second lockdown caused households to re-evaluate their finances. (The Times £)

Minimum unit pricing for alcohol is reasonably effective at targeting heavy drinkers but comes at a cost of hindering competition and reducing tax revenues, research suggests. (The Times £)

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