The increasingly bitter battle for the Manchester business news market is set to hot up next week as the city’s biggest newspaper launches a new business magazine.

The Manchester Evening News will publish Business Week, along with a companion website, from next Thursday – a 40-page colour magazine aimed at key decision-makers in the Greater Manchester area.

It emerged last month that the publisher was considering setting up the new title and was testing a dummy publication with advertising agencies.

The move comes after a period of turmoil in the business news market in the region after the closure of Crain’s Manchester Business and the launch of Manchester Matters in a bid to fill the gap left.

Business Week will be written by the MEN’s team of specialist business journalists and two new editorial roles have been created including a head of business.

The magazine is thought to be the only weekly magazine of its kind in the area and will include news, in-depth features, interviews, advice and profiles.

And MEN Media says the launch will also benefit its existing titles, with the Manchester Evening News publishing four pages of business news in each day’s paper and more each Thursday.

Other MEN weekly and free titles will also publish dedicated business pages for the first time and there will be increased online coverage.

MEN managing director David Sharrock said: “We are delighted to announce the launch of Business Week.

“This investment shows that MEN Media are committed to producing the best in business coverage in Greater Manchester across our portfolio of newspapers and websites, which will benefit the business community in the area as a whole.”

By January, 12,000 targeted copies of the magazine will be distributed, which will include direct mail to individual business people and companies, and delivery to pick up points in the city centre, airport and business parks.

Crain’s Manchester Business closed in June because of a lack of support from key advertising sectors.

After it ceased publication, it reached an agreement with TheBusinessDesk.com to encourage its previous readers to sign up to the specialist business website.

And former MEN transport correspondent Alan Salter set up Manchester Matters as an online and print-on-demand publication to replace his online magazine TransportMatters.