THE DAILY BRIEFING

■ CHINESE BURGERS Fast food chain McDonald’s is targeting double-digit sales growth in China by rolling out 2,000 stores over the next five years. The firm said it plans to increase restaurant numbers there from 2,500 to 4,500 by 2022.

■ PAY RISE Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s is hiking the pay of its shop floor staff as it seeks to fend off the threat posed by discounters Aldi and Lidl. All staff will be paid a minimum of £8 an hour from August – a 4.4pc pay increase.

■ PUBLISHING DEAL Two regional newspaper publishers have extended a deal to print each other’s products. Johnston Press and Trinity Mirror said the deal will continue for another three years.

■ TEST APPROVAL Pharmaceuticals firm Verona Pharma has gained approval for a second phase clinical trial in Europe to test a new inhaled drug that could treat pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis and asthma.

■ FREE TICKETS Regional hub London Southend Airport is offering 1,000 free return tickets to passengers whose flights are delayed travelling from Heathrow or Gatwick to Manchester, Dublin or Glasgow from next Monday.

■ MONEY PLAY Mobile games developer Gaming Realms said it has raised £1.1m to expand its product portfolio. The proceeds will be used to enhance its game library and for licensing the content on its server.

■ NEW HIRE Machinery and equipment firm Rotork has hired the boss of waste management firm Renewi as a non- executive director. Peter Dilnot will also be a member of Rotork’s audit, nomination, and remuneration committees.

■ CAR ANALYSIS Tech firm Trakm8 has won a five-year contract to provide its driver analysis technology to roadside assistance firm Calor Gas UK. As part of the £1.3m contract, Calor will use Trakm8’s camerabased technology to monitor the condition of its customers’ vehicles in the UK and Holland.

■ BOSS QUITS David Newman has stepped down as finance director of health food firm Real Good Food with immediate effect. He will be replaced by Harveen Rai, who was previously chief financial officer at frozen bakery supplier Aryzta.

■ NUMBERS MAN Chemical firm Zotefoams has appointed Doug Robertson, the former finance director of builder SIG, to its board.