GNE Group plc has entered into a conditional share purchase to dispose of its main operating subsidiary, Petrol Express, to Leopard No. 2 Investments for £51.66m. For full details log onto [http://www.forecourttrader.co.uk]

New legislation came into effect on October 1 requiring pictorial health warnings to be displayed on all newly-manufactured tobacco products. Retailers are allowed to sell any existing stock of cigarettes with text-only warnings until the end of September 2009, and they have until the end of September 2010 to sell other products such as handrolling tobacco.

Waitrose is moving into the convenience market with smaller stores specialising in fresh foods. The first of four trial stores will open on December 11 in Nottingham. At 5,800sq ft, it is one-fifth of the size of a typical Waitrose store, however it will still include a coffee bar.