Stores suffered their steepest fall in customer visits in six years last month, according to a survey that illustrates once again the problems facing Britain’s high streets (The Times £). High street visits hit six-year low as Brexit uncertainty deters shoppers (The Guardian). Trips to high streets, shopping centres and retail parks plunged last month as cold weather, political chaos and the sustained growth of online shopping kept families away from physical stores (The Telegraph). UK retailers suffered the steepest monthly decline in footfall for six years in May, according to figures from Springboard, the retail research company. (The Financial Times £)

Luke Johnson, the former chairman of Patisserie Valerie, writes a column for The Times (£) where he reflects on his very public disaster with Patisserie Valerie as the entrepreneur’s life was turned upside down when he learnt that his thriving cafe chain was about to collapse (The Times £).

Johnson cast himself as a victim of the fraud that forced the café chain into administration earlier this year as he vowed to return to his other business interests and to public life (The Financial Times £). The former chairman of Patisserie Valerie has broken his silence over the collapse of the café chain to criticise the roles of Grant Thornton, its auditor, and the stock market (The Times £). Luke Johnson, the business guru whose reputation crumbled after the implosion of Patisserie Valerie, the cafe chain he chaired, has broken his long silence over an incident he said had left feeling him physically ill (The Guardian). Luke Johnson, the former chairman of bakery chain Patisserie Valerie, has said he considered emigrating (The BBC).

The Times (£) features Majestic Wine boss Rowan Gormley and how the South African is ready to dump a treasured brand and sell off its shops. It highlights the difference between the entrepreneurial culture at Naked Wines and how “online forums are awash with Majestic staff bemoaning long hours in the office and low morale on the shop floor”. (The Times £)

Is Majestic about to disappear from the high street, ask The Guardian? The company wants to jettison the UK chain beloved of middle-class wine aficionados and recast itself as Naked Wines, the fashionable online sister brand, which delivers to your front door. (The Guardian)

Sir John Timpson, one of Britain’s top retailers, has accused Amazon of “predatory trading” and warned the US e-commerce giant is on track to destroy Britain’s retail industry. (The Telegraph)

The soft drinks group that makes Irn-Bru has entered the fast-growing arena of alcohol-free adult drinks (The Times £). AG Barr, the company behind Irn Bru and Rubicon juices, has become the latest company to tap into the growing trend for alcohol-free spirits with a new acquisition (The Daily Mail).

Catherine Conway tells how her long campaign led last week to a Waitrose trial of unpackaged goods that could change the way we buy our food. (The Guardian)

The UK’s first airport reusable coffee cup trial gets under way this week at Gatwick, offering passengers the opportunity to borrow and return refillable cups in a bid to help cut waste and tackle “throwaway” culture. (The Guardian)

If the thought of restocking the fridge is simply too much to bear, help will soon be at hand, for some Americans at least. Walmart is preparing to launch an in-home, straight-to-the-fridge delivery service to a million customers. (The Times £)

The FT looks at the major changes taking place in the global alcoholic drinks market that are creating winners and losers. Beer sales are flagging as consumers opt for healthier options while spirits and cocktails boom. (The Financial Times £)

Writing in The Guardian, presenter Adrian Chiles asks why the drinks industry isn’t doing more to warn of the dangers of alcohol? “Consider a pub, with its long row of beer taps. On some you will see the percentage of alcohol in the beer. But why doesn’t it tell you how many units of alcohol there are in a pint? For that matter, why doesn’t it also tell you how many calories there are?” (The Guardian)

Retail veteran Lord (Stuart) Rose is set for a bruising encounter with Time Out investors over his non-executive role. Advisory group ISS has urged shareholders to oppose his re-election at tomorrow’s annual meeting, claiming he cannot be considered independent. (The Times £)

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