The Co-operative Group’s outgoing chief executive has unveiled a calamitous loss of nearly £600 million after it was forced to write down the value of certain banking operations and set aside compensation for payment protection insurance claims.

Cash-strapped consumers continue to leave organic food on the shelf, with revenues falling again. The Soil Association said organic sales fell by 1.5 per cent to £1.64bn in 2012, after a 3.7 per cent decline in 2011.

The online fashion retailer Asos expects to have own-language websites in two of the fastest-growing and biggest markets, China and Russia, by October.

The future of HMV, the failed entertainment chain, is likely to be decided over the coming days.

The son of the founding family of the footwear retailer Hotter Shoes and its investors are exploring strategic options for the business, including a potential sale for up to £150m.

Sainsbury’s boss Justin King has urged the Government to provide tax relief in tomorrow’s Budget to help businesses create new jobs, after it posted market-busting sales in its fourth-quarter.

Sainsbury's will throw down the gauntlet to grocery market leader Tesco this week with strong sales figures.

The online grocer Ocado is best-known for its delivery vans on the UK's well-heeled suburban streets. But until recently it has often been in the red column of heavy fallers on the stock market since floating at 180p in July 2010. The loss-making firm looked healthier after its confirmation of talks with supermarket Morrisons over licensing its technology sent its shares soaring by nearly a quarter on Thursday. And yesterday the good times kept on rolling, ensuring its all-time low of 53p in December 2011 disappeared further into the rear-view mirror of its vans.

Home Retail Group hailed storming sales of tablet devices and fridges at its Argos chain for driving an uplift in its annual profit forecasts.