Supermarkets were preparing for an online price war to gain market share, according to the Daily Mail. Last week Tesco started offering shoppers £10 off first-time orders of £50 or more, following Ocado's price cuts on hundreds of lines since Christmas, it reported, warning of a possible internet "bloodbath".

Anheuser-Busch was reportedly considering a counterbid for Scottish & Newcastle that would derail an agreed £7.8bn offer from Carlsberg and Heineken. It was the second report of a rival offer for S&N in as many weeks, said The Guardian. Trading in S&N shares would be closely watched, which could force Anheuser-Busch to issue a statement making clear its intent.

The booming Fairtrade industry was a hollow "marketing device", that did not promote long-term economic development and left most farmers in developing countries worse off, according to findings from the Adam Smith Institute, reported The Daily Telegraph. Only 10% of the Fairtrade premium reached farmers despite claims by the Fairtrade Foundation that it offered disadvantaged farmers a better deal.

Muslims are being urged to boycott Walkers crisps after it emerged that some varieties contain alcohol. The Daily Express said some varieties contained ethyl alcohol, used to extract certain flavours, and Muslims were angry at Walkers' refusal to make the amount clear on packs. Walkers said it did not add alcohol, but some may be in certain flavours.

The Observer continued its focus on GM foods and revealed that only one in five Britons were worried about the dangers associated with GM. According to a poll by the Food Standards Agency, just 20% of 2,627 respondents said they were concerned about GM foods. The findings will disappoint groups such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, which have campaigned against GM.