Co-op, the UK’s biggest member-owned company, has appointed the first female chief executive in the organisation’s history as it faces a challenging period coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic (The Financial Times £). The Co-operative Group has confirmed the appointment of Shirine Khoury-Haq as its permanent chief executive three months after she took it up as an interim role (The Times £). She took over from Steve Murrells in March on an interim basis when he surprisingly left after ten years (The Daily Mail).

Britain’s independent brewers have urged ministers to step in to save the sector, as research revealed more than 70% of pubs do not expect to survive the winter if nothing is done to ease energy costs (The Guardian). Any family plans for a traditional Christmas lunch at the pub have been thrown into doubt after landlords warned they face an “extinction-level event” this winter because of soaring energy costs (The Times £).

The summer heatwave lifted sales at convenience stores, which accounted for nearly a third of all grocery custom as people flocked to corner shops for ice cream. (The Times £)

Supermarkets are confusing shoppers with unclear product pricing, according to Which?. The consumer group said that some versions of the same product can cost up to 346% more per unit at the same supermarket and that clear and consistent pricing is vital to help people to get the best value. (Sky News)

Companies at the centre of the global grain trade have enjoyed a record bonanza amid soaring food prices around the world, raising concerns of profiteering and speculation in global food markets that could put staples beyond the reach of the poorest, and prompting calls for a windfall tax. (The Guardian)

Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy is leading a fresh push into the sector at what could be an opportune time for a disrupter with deep pockets. The pandemic has sped up adoption of telemedicine and other uses of technology, and rising inflation has made both retail prescription drug customers and corporate insurance buyers more price sensitive. (The Financial Times £)

Brutalist department stores may soon be granted protected status as the public body that looks after England’s historic environment reviews the buildings seen by many as icons of the high street. (The Guardian)

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