A no-deal Brexit threatens the UK’s food security and will lead to higher prices and empty shelves in the short-term, retailers are warning. Sainsbury’s, Asda and McDonald’s are among those warning stockpiling fresh food is impossible and that the UK is very reliant on the EU for produce (The BBC).

A no-deal Brexit would quickly trigger a jump in food prices and a reduction in choice of products, British retailers have warned in the latest plea by big business against leaving the EU without an agreement (The Financial Times £). Supermarkets would temporarily struggle to maintain supplies of fresh fruit and vegetables if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, senior executives have told MPs (The Times £). The bosses of several major supermarkets and fast food chains have waded into the Brexit debate, warning of higher prices and gaps on shelves if the UK leaves the EU without a deal in March (The Telegraph).

Leading retail bosses, including the chief executives of Sainsbury’s, Asda, Marks & Spencer, the Co-op and Waitrose, have written to the government warning of significant disruption to food supplies in the event of a no-deal Brexit (The Guardian). A ‘no-deal’ Brexit would lead to higher prices, empty shelves and pose a threat to the UK’s food security, retailers have warned (Sky News).

Thousands of retail jobs are at risk after another bleak day for the industry, with Tesco cutting costs, the off-licence chain Oddbins trying to avert administration and the stationery business Paperchase seeking to close stores (The Times £).

Tesco has confirmed up to 9,000 jobs are at risk at its head office and stores as part of its restructuring plan to “simplify” the business and cut costs (The Telegraph). Tesco plans to slash thousands of jobs as the UK’s largest supermarket group embarks on a shake-up (The Financial Times £). Tesco, the UK’s biggest supermarket, has confirmed reports that it will swing the axe on thousands of jobs across its stores and head office (The Daily Mail). Tesco has announced that 9,000 jobs will be affected in a restructuring of its store and head office functions (Sky News). The UK’s biggest grocer is in the midst of trying to save £1.5bn as the competition between supermarkets intensifies (The BBC).

The Guardian adds that hundreds more jobs are at risk from the closure of about 200 staff canteens, which have been run by outsourcing companies since 2017. (The Guardian)

Sky’s Ian King looks to explain the key reasons behind Tesco’s latest shake-up, pointing to the many pressures ahead including the rise of the discounters, the Sainsbury’s/Asda merger and cost inflation. (Sky News)

Tesco’s CEO should note that simpler may not mean better, writes Nils Pratley in The Guardian. “A portion of customers expect its stores – at least the big ones – to offer more than a version of Aldi and Lidl’s no-frills approach.” (The Guardian)

The Mail’s Alex Brummer writes: “Tesco’s outline of changes would be almost comical if they weren’t so serious… This is being done so as to ‘invest in serving our customers’. How removing staff and cutting back opening hours will help customers is a mystery.” (The Daily Mail)

Wine merchant Oddbins on the brink of collapse for second time in less than ten years (The Daily Mail). The company that owns the Oddbins off-licence chain is preparing to appoint administrators in a move that puts hundreds of jobs at risk (The BBC). Hundreds more retail jobs are at risk this week as the owner of Oddbins and Wine Cellars, the off-licence chain, lines up administrators for the second time in less than ten years (Sky News). The owner of Oddbins has warned staff of job losses in the near future as the off-licence business said it had appointed advisers to look at options for the future after an “extremely tough” Christmas (The Guardian).

Ocado’s shares jumped as much as 6.4% in early trading yesterday amid reports of a potential deal with Marks & Spencer. (The Daily Mail)

Following on from the Ocado/Marks & Spencer tie-up talks over the weekend, The Times (£) argues M&S’ lack of an online food offer looks noticeable by its absence, particularly when sales growth in its food business has been lacking.

The FT’s Lombard column notes there were very different versions to the story in the very different newspapers — ranging from an M&S-Ocado “tie-up” to Ocado being “gobbled up”. For investors, then, the task is not unlike that of a warehouse grocery robot: picking the kernel of truth from all that is plainly bananas. (The Financial Times £)

On Monday an international panel blamed profit maximisation for destroying the health of people and the planet. It called on governments to unite against Big Food in the way they once took on Big Tobacco. (The Financial Times £)

Pasta, protein bars and granola bars made from insect flour are to go on sale in Selfridges to highlight alternative proteins for inclusion in mainstream diets. (The Guardian)

January’s seas have been cruel for Norway, the world’s biggest salmon farmer. In the latest setback, Bergen-based Leroy Seafood on Monday reported the loss of 2.6m smolt — young salmon — following a weekend fire at a Finnish facility. (The Financial Times £)

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