This week: Marketing news from the national press

Virgin Mobile is to launch a company in France through a joint venture with Carphone Warehouse. Virgin Mobile France, which is expected to operate on Orange's network, will be sold in 200 of the retailer's Phone House stores nationwide - Daily Mail.

Apple is to crack down on iPod accessory retailers by stopping them using the brand name. The company will give approval only to retailers that pay royalties - The Business.

New Look is to double the size of its 541-store chain following the acquisition of 34 former Littlewoods stores from Primark-owner Associated British Foods - The Sunday Telegraph.

Tesco is considering a bid for US casualwear brand Cherokee, which it sells in its UK stores. Ownership would enable the retailer to sell the brand in its overseas network. Cherokee was put up for sale earlier this year, priced £200m - Sunday Express.

Loyalty Management UK, which owns Nectar, is believed to be in talks with several buyers about a possible sale. A decision is likely to be made by the end of the year - The Daily Telegraph.

Kingfisher, which owns B&Q, is to open about 20 trade stores after a drop in sales at the DIY chain. It will open about 15 Argos-style Screwfix outlets and five Trade Depot stores in the next year - The Times.

Halifax and NatWest are banning the use of images of piggy banks in promotional material to avoid offending Muslim customers - Daily Express.

This article was first published on Marketing