Tesco’s AGM was a chance for shareholders to grill Philip Clarke on everything from self-services machines to South African fruit.

Tesco’s sales and profits are falling, its market share is being eroded and pressure is mounting on chief executive Philip Clarke.

But the most pressing issues for shareholders at its AGM were broken refrigerators at the Potters Bar store, a malfunctioning self-service machine at the Old Kent Road branch and the nutritional value of South African fruit.

Those were just some of the questions that Clarke and co had to deal with, which might well have been light relief for the under-pressure Tesco boss.

However, a sizeable portion of shareholders didn’t stay to hear Clarke’s response – the free Tesco Healthy Living lunch on offer had some slipping out of the AGM early to grab a roast chicken sandwich.