Breakfast briefing: BHS, Shop Direct and more

Sir Philip Green hits back at MP

Sir Philip Green has accused MP Frank Field of using him as a “political football”, Sky News reported.

This came after MP repeated his demand that Green should be stripped of his knighthood despite the settlement of the BHS pension scheme.

In a letter to the MP, Green accused him of being “vindictive”.

He wrote, “I made a commitment to your committee that I would sort the BHS pensions issue.

"I have done what I said I would do and I have put the pensioners in a considerably better position than they would have been in had they stayed in the Pension Protection Fund."

Shop Direct put up for sale

Shop Direct has been put up for sale by its owner with a price tag of £3bn, Sky News reported.

In the coming weeks, Shop Direct management will enter into talks with private equity firms including Advent International, Bain Capital, BC Partners‎, Cinven, CVC Capital Partners and Permira.

This could lead to the sale of part or all of Shop Direct.

UBS will oversee the sale process.

Supermarkets recall hummus dips

Supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and M&S have pulled some hummus products from shelves following complaints from customers of a strange taste, The Guardian reported.

Food manufacturing company Bakkavor has confirmed a “production problem” as the reason behind the strange flavour.