Dragons Den’s Peter Jones and Touker Suleyman shock fans as row over food business takes vicious turn

DRAGONS Den gurus Peter Jones and Touker Suleyman clashed as they fought to seal the deal with a food business.

Peter and Touker clashed in Thursday night’s Dragon’s Den as they fought for a business deal with entrepreneur Jack Niber, the CEO and founder of the sugar-free company, PureSweet.

He aims to bring the “highest quality of sugar-free products while not compromising on taste and staying 100 per cent natural.”

He pitched his natural sweetener that "looks and tastes like sugar but has zero calories and harbours no bittersweet aftertaste like many other sweeteners do."

He impressed the dragons with his £1.5 million profit and on course to turn a massive £1.4 million over this year.

Jack entered the den asking for £75,000 from the panel in return for a five per cent stake in his business.

Tej Lavani said: “Very impressive what you have done in the last year.”

Touker had said he could "definitely help" the entrepreneur, saying he has distributors all over the world, and that he has accounts open "everywhere" including Sainsbury's, Tesco, Asda.

Peter told Jack he has experience on his side saying he has been on Dragon’s Den the longest.

Peter said: “I’ve been on this kind of journey. And when you say you want to create the next Tate and Lyle, that makes me excited because I believe in you as a person and I think we have a chance of creating together the next Tate and Lyle.”

Tension built as Peter and Toukar offered identical offers.

Toukar told Jack he has a black book with accounts open in all the retailers.

But Peter cut his fellow investor off sharply by asking: "What food brands have you got in retail?"

Toukar replied: “Well I’d say I’ve taken brands, not food brands.

“Peter, with all due respect, if you're a shrewd businessman you can adapt to any… I disagree with you.”

Peter interrupted: “When it comes to food across a wide range, nobody has done more.”

Toukar added: “I think we can all do that. I've got an amazing team that support all my investments."

Peter remarked: “And all I'd say, Jack, in the time that it took Touker to say that I would have got you into Sainsbury's.”

Jack admitted he was hoping to get two dragons, ideally Peter and Tej.

Both Peter and Tej were happy to agree to five per cent each.

Peter said his business "will be very very successful" after Jack accepted the deal.

Toukar wished him good luck.

Sara Davies predicted: “He’s going to be big!”

Dragons' Den airs on Thursdays at 8pm on BBC One.