Allan, key to the Tesco fine-tune?

If we assume that much of the heavy lifting has been completed at Tesco (???), then the appointment of John Allan has to be about tightening the bolts on the Tesco rebuild.

True, the SFO and GCA issues are still in the pipeline, but if the broad procedures anticipating their inevitable outputs are not already in place, then we are all in trouble...

Moreover, pro-active suppliers will already have anticipated the outcome of the Tesco product-cull (think obvious over-laps by function, undifferentiated me-toos, products that are in the assortment because of back margin, rather than consumer demand, and slow-yielding 'experimental' products outside the core Tesco offering) and pushed on half-open doors elsewhere...

So that leaves John Allan's probable MO:

Taking some key features of an Allen-key might provide some pointers:

• The tool is simple, small and light: an essential requirement in fine-tuning...
• The contact surfaces of the screw or bolt are protected from external damage: See Contract of Employment 
• There are six contact surfaces between bolt and driver: Having ensured driver-bolt fit, little scope for slippage in addressing problems
• Torque is constrained by the length and size of the key: Hopefully, given the retail experience, little danger of over-doing the treatment
• Very small bolt heads can be accommodated: Even minor issues will receive attention, just-in-case...
• The tool can be manufactured very cheaply, so one is often included with products requiring end-user assembly: "If the tool is right, don't ask the price..."
• Either end of the tool can be used to take advantage of reach or torque: A need to bend over backwards for sensitive issues?
• The tool is L-shaped: Perfect for current flat-line environment (An L-shaped recovery involves a sharp decline in key metrics followed by a long period of flat or stagnant growth).

Finally, remembering that we are still talking about Tesco, with a variety of heritage problems that may resist first attempts, the tool can be reconditioned using an electric grinder by removing the worn-out part, and then works like new...

* Apologies to the Allen Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut...