Small businesses have called for an end to "downright unfair" practices after a major manufacturer renewed a call for a payment if suppliers want to remain on its books.

The maker of some of Britain’s best known food brands said sales have been below expectations as it feels the impact of weak supermarket trading.

Heavyweight stocks helped maintain the modest recovery of the FTSE 100 Index today after decent gains for oil firms and phone giant Vodafone.

Hopes of an international compromise on the Syrian crisis fuelled gains on the FTSE 100 Index as oil prices also eased back from recent highs.

Loss-making Premier Foods – home to Mr Kipling and Bisto – boosted its turnaround today by admitting it is on track for a better than expected year.

The London market’s New Year rally showed little sign of coming off the boil today despite uncertainty over the UK’s economic prospects.

London’s FTSE 100 Index powered nearly 1% higher as hefty gains from BP helped it overcome a second day of trading being suspended in storm-ravaged New York.

Greencore has increased its presence in the British food market with the purchase of International Cuisine Ltd (ICL), a Durham-based private label chilled ready-meal business, for an undisclosed sum.

Strong corporate earnings figures in the US boosted markets today but the UK's slide back into recession left London's leading shares index with only lacklustre gains.

Some of Britain’s best- known food brands, including Bird’s custard and Ragu pasta sauce, could reportedly become culinary bedfellows under plans to create a new food giant.

London’s leading shares index struggled to find direction today as downbeat housing data in both China and the US saw the recent upbeat mood stutter.

The UK’s largest food manufacturer Premier Foods has landed a crucial deal to renew more than £1bn (€1.2bn) of loans.

Greece's failure to reach a concrete deal with creditors to avoid a default depressed world markets today, with banks among the biggest losers.

Hovis and Mr Kipling owner Premier Foods will launch a major television advertising push this week after admitting its marketing efforts had failed to keep pace with competitors.

SMALL food producers are being prevented from expanding by a crosswind of the global downturn, commodity-cost volatility and lower consumer demand, according to an expert Rabobank analyst.

BOYNE Valley Foods has acquired the Irish division of British food group Premier Foods for €41.4 million.

The London market finished the week on a high today as most EU countries agreed to explore plans for a closer union to get to grips with the region’s debt crisis.

The FTSE 100 Index suffered its fifth losing session in a row today as high borrowing costs for Italy and Spain fuelled fears of a eurozone meltdown.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average has risen by 0.3%, although it was held back by the worries over Italy.

The troubled company behind Mr Kipling and Branston pickle today said it had been given extra breathing space by its banks to get its finances in order.

UK investors lost confidence in the prospect of a speedy resolution to the eurozone debt crisis today, causing London's leading share index to drop into the red.

A British couple who scooped over £101m in the EuroMillions draw had only played twice before, they revealed today.

London’s leading index rose for a third day running, but gains were modest as a downgrade of UK banks by a top ratings agency overshadowed a better than expected jobs report in the US.

The UK’s largest food manufacturer today issued a profits warning as it revealed a slump in sales across well-known brands including Hovis.

The London market suffered its worst week since the financial crash of 2008 as traders continued to panic that the world economy is heading for recession.

Banking stocks tumbled by as much as 10% in the UK today as the panic driving world markets lower showed no signs of easing.

The London market closed lower today as improved US jobs data failed to offset fears over the wider economy.

BSkyB’s on-off takeover saga and renewed fears over the spread of Europe’s debt crisis led to a dramatic session in the City today.

London’s blue chip market broke through the 6,000 mark for the first time in more than a month today as its run of gains continued despite falls in the banking sector.

Banks helped lift London's leading index sharply higher today after Lloyds Banking Group boss Antonio Horta-Osorio received backing for his plans to overhaul the taxpayer-controlled bank.

PREMIER FOODS GROUP has re-appointed real estate firm CBRE to manage its property portfolio in Britain and Ireland.

Barclays gave bank shares a boost today as it unveiled better-than-expected profits of £6.1bn (€7.3bn) in a strong start to the sector’s annual results season.

The Bank of England’s latest quarterly inflation report will provide the economic highlight this week, while bookmaker Ladbrokes and retailer Thorntons are among those due to report on the London market.

London's FTSE 100 Index shrugged off concerns in the banking sector today as a buoyant session on Wall Street helped blue chips make gains.

A two-day rally on the London market came to an end today as traders waited for key economic data from the US.

Premier Foods today said it was in advanced talks with two parties over the sale of its meat-free food range Quorn.

Scottish & Southern Energy's plans to raise gas bills by 9.4% fuelled gains among blue chip utility stocks today.

Royal Dutch Shell was among those making share gains on the FTSE 100 Index today in a buoyant session for commodity stocks.

Stronger commodity stocks and a results-day boost for Royal Dutch Shell helped lift the London market today.

The FTSE 100 Index paused for breath today after its recent shares rally as commodity stocks posted heavy falls.

Commodity stocks led London's blue-chip share index lower today as investors paused for breath after a recent strong rally.

A British man was sickened when he found a dead mouse in his loaf of bread while making sandwiches for his children.