n Consumer confidence in the internet means that 65% of shoppers want to buy their Christmas gifts online this year. A report by Visa reveals that 81% of Britons believe shopping online saves time; 70% think it saves money.

n Warburtons’ health and safety officer Derrick Watson is the first person in Scotland to achieve a level six diploma in occupational safety and health.

n Brian Ridgeway, managing director of Discovery Foods group, has become the first non-American to be voted to a senior position on the Washington DC-based Tortilla Industry Association. In the US, annual sales of tortillas exceed all other ethnic and speciality bread sales, including bagels, croissants, muffins and pitta bread. Recent independent research by the association predicted that 68 million fajita wraps will be consumed in the UK over the next 12 months.

n A new trade event aims to encourage communication between retailers and local suppliers. Offers4profits is sponsoring the one-day event on Tuesday 21 November 2006 in Nottingham to give local suppliers a voice. Suppliers from within 50 miles of Nottingham city are invited to showcase their products to buyers. See [http://www.offers4profits.co.uk] to rent a £50 pitch.

n The Scottish company Campbell’s Shortbread, the marketing and distribution firm Petty Wood and the freight firm Tudor Rose will be some of the British food and drink sector companies exhbiiting at the Food, Hospitality and Catering China Exhbition in Shanghai on 30 November to 22 Dcember.