Marks and Spencer is opening its 100th Simply Food store on a BP Connect site this month. The Towcester North Simply Food at BP Connect on the A43 will open for business on September 10.

Sewell Retail claims that is has become the UK’s 17th largest independent forecourt retailer after the acquisition of six new outlets in the past five months. The group, which has invested more than £1m in its retail estate since summer 2007, now operates 12 sites.

Ethical water brand One and Total UK have so far donated £1m to water projects in Africa. Total was One’s first national stockist back in 2006. The donation will give nearly 500,000 people access to safe drinking water.