Here are the business stories making the headlines locally and across the country this morning.
Post Office scandal: Kemi Badenoch hits back at ex-chairman
Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch has hit back at claims made by former Post Office chairman Henry Staunton about the reasons for his departure.
Mr Staunton told the Sunday Times that when he was sacked Ms Badenoch had told him: "Someone's got to take the rap."
But Ms Badenoch said the comments were a "disgraceful misrepresentation" of their conversation.
Mr Staunton also said he was told to delay payouts to Post Office scandal victims, which the government denies.
Hundreds of subpostmasters were prosecuted because of glitches in the Horizon IT system between 1999 and 2015 in what has been called the biggest miscarriage of justice in UK history.
Hospitality demands VAT cut as National Living Wage hike looms
Hospitality industry bodies have united to demand action from the chancellor as firms continue to struggle under a weight of costs in the tough economy.
A survey by UKHospitality, the British Beer and Pub Association, British Institute of Innkeeping and Hospitality Ulster found that a quarter of operators have no cash reserves left after years of challenges.
They began with Brexit hitting the ability to hire and retain staff and have been further complicated by COVID disruption and the effects of the cost of living crisis.
The groups warned that their members would need help to bring down costs at the budget, due on 6 March, to minimise the risk of further price increases being imposed - hikes that would inevitably stoke inflation in the recession-hit economy.
North-east food and drink hub One SeedPod ‘on track’ to open next year
Construction work on the One SeedPod centre in Aberdeen is well underway.
The new facility on Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) Craibstone campus is expected to be built by the end of this year with it due to open in early 2025.
One SeedPod is being led by economic development partnership Opportunity North East (One).
More than 22,000 people in the region are employed by food and drink firms turning over an estimated £2.2 billion a year.
Morrisons to price match Aldi in fightback against German discounters
Morrisons has begun matching its prices to Aldi and Lidl as new chief executive Rami Baitiéh mounts a fightback against the German discounters.
The supermarket has pledged to match the price offered by Aldi or Lidl on more than 200 products, offering customers whichever price is lowest. The offer will cover everything from corn flakes and mince to canned tomatoes and baby wipes. Prices will be updated twice a week.
The pledge is one of the most high-profile examples of Mr Baitiéh’s promise to “reinvigorate” Morrisons and win back market share from the discounters.
Mr Baitiéh, who formerly ran the French supermarket chain Carrefour, took charge in September 2023. He said in January: “I must be very direct: since the pandemic, Morrisons has not been on peak form.”