Former Tesco boss Brasher set to join South Africa's Pick n Pay

It is thought he will relocate to South Africa to take on the role at the 775-store retailer, the Evening Standard reported.

Brasher’s exit from the Tesco board in March shocked the industry. Group chief executive Philip Clarke said at the time: “You can’t have two captains in a team.”

Pick n Pay is currently looking for a new chief executive.

A spokesman for the retailer said Pick n Pay has “not signed any senior appointment with anyone at all,” but declined to comment on Brasher.

Brasher is credited with growing Tesco’s non-food business, driving forward its partnership with Dunnhumby on its Clubcard and building the scale of Tesco’s international sourcing.

Tesco is tomorrow expected to report a 12% fall in UK pre-tax profit for the first half, repsenting the first time in 18 years that the grocer’s UK profits have declined.

The retailer said today that it is looking at ways to expand its Clubcard offer and allow shoppers to access their shopping data online. The Clubcard Play initative will give shoppers a “fun” way to look at their data.

A Tesco spokeswoman said: “At Tesco, we are always looking for new ways to engage with our customers and reward their loyalty. Exploring how to provide customers with a fun way to access their own data is part of that development work, and it’s something we’ve been thinking about for some time.”

Sainsbury’s already allows its shoppers signed up to its Nectar card to access receipts for their last 55 shopping trips by entering their Nectar card number online.