Albertsons, the US supermarket operator controlled by buyout group Cerberus Capital Management, is exploring a takeover of high-end grocer Whole Foods Market, said two people briefed about the matter. The US private equity group that backs Albertsons has had preliminary talks with bankers about making a bid for Whole Foods, but no formal bid has yet been made. (The Financial Times £)

The improvements these rivals made to their offerings of fresh and organic produce have taken a toll on Whole Foods, bringing the unwelcome attention of an activist investor. After six consecutive quarters of declining same-store sales, US hedge fund Jana Partners revealed earlier this month it had built a nearly 9% stake. (The Financial Times £)

The Daily Mail talks to M&S boss Steve Rowe – who says of its clothing business when he started a year ago: “’Customers said they couldn’t find anything, they were not clear what we stood for, our prices were too expensive, our availability was poor and they were not enjoying the shopping experience. Other than that, it was quite good.” (The Daily Mail)

One year on from BHS’s dramatic collapse into administration and more than 100 shops across Britain’s high streets are still lying empty, according to analysis by The Telegraph and property agents at CBRE. Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct has paid the highest price for any of BHS’s former stores, while Primark has taken on the most shops, with around 15 sites secured, followed by Next, which is thought to be in discussions on six stores. Poundworld, Aldi and B&M have secured around three sites. (The Telegraph)

French supermarket operator Casino Guichard-Perrachon suffered the infamy of being hit with its second junk rating in a little over a year on Monday after Fitch Ratings became the latest to strip the company of its investment grade status. (The Financial Times £)

The beleaguered Co-operative Bank will this week pick new City advisers to negotiate a restructuring deal with its investors as hopes of an outright sale of the company diminish. The bank is to hire investment bankers to help thrash out an agreement with a group of US hedge funds, which hold big equity stakes in the lender as well as large chunks of its debt. (Sky News)

Manufacturers have reported the strongest increase in orders in 22 years, helped by the fall in sterling, strong demand in Britain and the global economic recovery. (The Times £)

Canadian company Tim Hortons is to open its first UK coffee shop in May, entering the crowded but still growing British market for food and drink on the go. (The Guardian)

Greggs, the high street bakery chain, is among a growing number of UK companies that are hiring former convicts and others who find it hard to obtain jobs. The company says these become some of its most loyal employees. (The Financial Times £)

A wonky version of one of the UK’s most expensive vegetables, asparagus, has gone on sale this week for just £1 at a major supermarket chain, in a drive to stop the crop – misshapen as a result of this spring’s fluctuating temperatures – from being wasted. (The Guardian)

The battle for the bottoms of North American babies continued to take its toll on US consumer goods maker Kimberly-Clark during the first quarter. Shares in the company behind Huggies nappies and Kleenex tissue fell 1.8% in pre-market trading on Monday after it lowered the bottom end of its full year organic and net sales forecasts. (The Financial Times £)

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