Business Diary: 28/07/2009

Check out fun for kids at Sainsbury's

Sainsbury's new non-food website seems to be trying to influence the employment and shopping intentions of kids as young as three years old.

One of the most exciting products on the site is the Sainsbury's Battery Operated Cash Register, right. It is described as having "a conveyor belt and basket stocked full of realistic miniature Sainsbury's products that roll up to the cash register for the shop assistant to check through. A microphone, barcode scanner and paper money provide everything your little-one needs to role play shops." How can Postman Pat ever compete with such a product?

Estate agents get on their electric bike

The UK public often ranks estate agents lower than MPs and journalists, in surveys of the least-trusted professions in society. But the London-based estate agency Winkworth is considering scrapping its cars in favour of electric bikes, doing its bit for the environment. The GoCycles have rechargeable electric motors and could persuade rival Foxtons to follow and ditch its trademark gaudy minis. While any contribution to saving the planet is to be lauded, London cabbies will surely not welcome an army of similarly brightly coloured bikes clogging the roads, particularly if they share most of the public's view on estate agents.

Drunks face qualified grilling at the pub

Underage drinkers may find it more difficult to get served in a pub after the brewing giant SABMiller joined forces with the British Institute of Innkeeping charity yesterday to offer lifetime qualifications in responsible alcohol retailing. SABMiller will sponsor 500 corner shop and pub staff to receive formal training in dealing with, among other issues, underage or drunk customers. The bad news is that if all underage drinkers only drank at home, many establishments would find their tills half-empty at the end of the week.

Ocado offers to beat Waitrose's prices

The latest email from Ocado, left, the online grocer which sells Waitrose's products, seems a tad on the cheeky side. After stating its Tesco price match, Ocado says: "Now you'll pay less for Waitrose 'own-label' groceries at Ocado too – with our new and exclusive internet only prices."

Number of the day

11 Days that the FTSE 100 has now been in positive territory. One more day and the winning streak will break a record.