Closer to a deal 

Sainsbury's is believed to be closer to agreeing to open its books to bidder Delta Two after the Qatari-back fund pledged to raise the equity element of its £10.6bn offer. 

Sunday lobbying 

Asda is to lobby the government again over the relaxation of Sunday trading laws in England and Wales after the next general election. 

Slave labour slur 

Supermarkets caught up in a price war over school uniforms have been accused of fuelling slave labour by ActionAid. It claimed retailers were putting pressure on suppliers to cut costs and turn orders around, resulting in low pay, long hours and appalling conditions for workers in Bangladesh.