Tesco UK store

Tesco has confirmed it has suspended another three executives as the investigation into its profit overstatement continues and taking the total number of suspensions to eight.

Tesco has not confirmed the names of those suspended, but Sky News has reported that it is Dan Jago, head of beer, wine and spirits, Sean McCurley, director of convenience and category director William Linnane who have now been asked to step aside.

Commercial director Kevin Grace is also understood to have been suspended.

A spokesperson for Tesco said: 'We have asked three employees to step aside to facilitate the investigation into the potential overstatement of profits in UK food for the first half of the year.”

The UK’s largest retailer said it will provide an update on the investigation along with interim results on 23 October.

After revealing it has overstated its half-year profit forecasts by £250 million, Tesco suspended four senior executives: UK managing director Chris Bush, head of Group Food Sourcing Matt Simister, UK finance director Carl Rogberg and commercial director for food John Scouler, and launched an internal investigation into its accounts.

It is also being investigated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).