Supermarkets could be allowed to operate at motorway service stations with formats such as Tesco Metro and Marks and Spencer’s Simply Food, according to the Sunday Telegraph.
The paper said current operators such as Moto, Roadchef and Welcome Break are to be told to improve standards of service and value for money or face a reference to the Office of Fair Trading.
It added that the government also plans to lift the ban on the sale of alcohol at motorway service areas by allowing it to be sold to overnight guests in hotels.

A senior source at the Big Food Group was reported in The Observer as saying that the group could close down its 700-strong Iceland supermarket chain.
Last week the group said that margins had returned to the frozen food retailer but the source said: “If the worst comes to the worst and we can't fix it, we can just close it down."

Scottish milk processor Robert Wiseman Dairies is set to focus its business growth on the English and Welsh markets, according to The Scotsman.
Wiseman, due to report interim figures this Friday, could also unveil investment in its distribution infrastructure as well as plans for further depots in England.
The firm is also set to sign another multiple retail deal over the next few weeks, after its £14m deal with Sainsbury’s to supply stores in the north of England and the Midlands.
There are also plans to launch the ‘Footballing Cow’ TV ads in the English and Welsh markets for the first time before and after Christmas, to build awareness of the famous black and white brand.

The Sunday Times said that Asda’s Andy Bond, who is in charge of its George clothing brand, was in New York last week at a fashion summit. The report said Bond is helping parent company Wal-Mart grow its clothing sales. And that if the George range can grow Stateside as it has in the UK, Wal-Mart’s buying power could slash prices for the range.

Tax rises introduced by the Labour party over the last five years have cost UK business £47bn, the Confederation of British Industry told the Financial Times.
The CBI said it was supportive of much of Labour's first term in office, but is to call on ministers to halt the “relentless and damaging” rise in business taxation.

Boots has asked international consultancy McKinsey to consider for help after chairman John McGrath admitted last week that the company “had lost focus”, according to the Daily Telegraph today.