City grandee John Allan, the chairman of Tesco, is facing claims of inappropriate and unprofessional behaviour from four women, as the supermarket risks becoming embroiled in the scandal surrounding the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). 

Mr Allan has been accused of touching the bottom of two women on separate occasions, and of making inappropriate remarks to two other women. 

According to the Guardian, which reported the allegations, Mr Allan touched the bottom of a senior member of Tesco staff last June at the supermarket's annual general meeting, as well as the bottom of a member of CBI's staff when he was the organisation's president in 2019. 

Mr Allan held the position of CBI president between 2018 and 2020, and then served as vice president until 2021. 

He is alleged to have also made inappropriate remarks on two other separate occasions to CBI staff in 2019 and 2021, the Guardian reported.

Mr Allan did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but denied all but one of the allegations to the Guardian, which surrounded his comments on a CBI worker's appearance in 2019. 

A spokesman told the newspaper: "Mr Allan was mortified after making the comment in 2019 and he immediately apologised. The person concerned agreed the matter was closed and no further action was taken. Regarding the other claims, they are simply untrue."

A spokesman for Tesco said: “In relation to John Allan’s conduct at Tesco’s 2022 AGM, Tesco has received no complaints or concerns formally or informally, including through our confidential Protector Line service.

"John Allan’s conduct has never been the subject of a complaint during his tenure as chair of Tesco.”

The supermarket added that the allegation was serious and urged anyone with any concerns or complaints to go through its reporting channels so it could investigate.

It comes weeks after Tesco joined other businesses in pausing its membership of the CBI, in the wake of allegations of rape and harassment at its events. 

The lobby group is currently undergoing a 60-day review as it battles to restore its reputation as "the voice of business". 

Dozens of organisations have cancelled their membership of the CBI, while Jeremy Hunt has said there is "no point" engaging with the organisation. 

An independent report into the culture at the CBI found that it had harboured "toxic" sexual predators.