Greyfriars sees strong growth: Vegetable grower Greyfriars UK has recorded a year of strong financial growth despite difficulties in its core business of mushroom growing. Last year saw sales of just under £11m for the company, which supplies vegetables to large retailers, including Morrisons. The announcement follows investment by the company of more than £800,000 in office and production facilities. It has also built a packing and processing plant near Ripon, North Yorkshire. Greyfriars' net profits after tax were £120,000, which it said would provide a good platform for further growth. John Smith, managing director, said: "The UK mushroom industry has decreased in size by about 60 per cent in the past five years. However, by maintaining our exceptional service and quality levels, we have managed to evolve and secure diversification opportunities from our main customer."

Oil sale: A family-run oil supply company has sold part of its business to a German multinational for an undisclosed sum. Brett Oils, which has operated from Gateshead quayside for 128 years, has sold its Ovoline Lubricants business to Fuchs. Ovoline employs about 60 people. Brett will still operate its distribution division from the site.

No play: Computer games retailer Game said underlying sales in the UK fell 20.4 per cent over Christmas after an "unprecedented breakdown" in the supply of PlayStation 2 (PS2) consoles. Game, which has 398 stores in the UK and 224 more worldwide, was forced to trade for more than half the run-up to Christmas with no PS2 consoles in its stores.

Chief executive Martin Long

estimated that the group lost tens of millions of revenues from the shortage of PS2 consoles.