The Co-operative Group has appointed the first non-executive directors to its food advisory board.

Former Tesco director John Longworth, a Competition Commission panel member, joins the mutual’s Food Subsidiary board alongside Kingfisher chief executive Euan Sutherland.

The board oversees the group’s supermarket and farming divisions.

The Co-op’s chairman, Len Wardle, hailed the addition of the “seasoned professionals", while a spokesman said they would “provide a valuable independent view" for the business.

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