Tesco chair accused of sexual harassment of four women

The chair of supermarket group Tesco, Britain’s biggest retailer, has been accused of inappropriate behaviour towards four women, The Guardian newspaper reported Tuesday.

Tesco said it had “received no complaints or concerns formally or informally” regarding the alleged offences made against John Allan, one of which is said to have taken place at its annual general meeting (AGM) last year.

The report comes after The Guardian recently revealed similar accusations against staff at the CBI — Britain’s main business lobby group — triggering a shake-up at the organisation and a police investigation.

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The daily on Tuesday said Allan “faces claims of inappropriate and unprofessional behaviour from four women”.

It added that Allan, 74, allegedly touched the bottom of a senior Tesco staff member at the AGM.

The Guardian also reported that it is also claimed that he touched the bottom of a member of staff at the CBI’s annual dinner in 2019, when he was president of the lobby group.

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Sources allege that Allan also made inappropriate remarks at the two events, as well as separate, similar comments to two other female CBI staff members in 2019 and in 2021 respectively, according to The Guardian.

“Some of the women said they were offended by the alleged actions and considered his behaviour to be sexual harassment,” the newspaper added.

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The Guardian said Allan denied all but one of the allegations, which was making a comment about a CBI staffer’s appearance that she found to be offensive in 2019.

© Agence France-Presse