Discount retailer Matalan also reported a surge in pre-Christmas sales, which were up 42.9% on the year.

BBC: Stores reveal festive boom

He left the company for senior positions at Matalan and Iceland before returning as retail director in 2005.

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Fashion chain Matalan said it had suspended its involvement pending a review and book seller Waterstones and electrical retailer Maplin have already left.

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With a wealthy brother-in-law like John Hargreaves--who founded British retailer Matalan and taught Wynne how to run a business--Wynne thought he'd have it made.

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Matalan, which is based in Skelmersdale, west Lancashire, and has more than 150 stores, said that, for the five weeks to 11 January, like-for-like sales rose 1% compared with 13.1% in the previous year.

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The two main elements had been the growth of discount stores such as Matalan and Peacocks, and also the growth of brand shops such as Gap and Next, which targeted specific parts of the market.

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Christmas has also been less than kind to budget clothing retailer Matalan as its shares fell 6% to 195p, before rallying slightly to close at 202p, after it announced sales rose just 1% over the festive period.

BBC: Mixed fortunes for UK retailers

Matalan shares rocketed 20p to 555p in early trade after the company revealed it had poached Asda Walmart president Paul Mason to fill a chief executive vacancy created four months ago with the ousting of highly-regarded Angus Monro.

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Campaigners also want Primark, with Matalan and Mango, which have also used the building's products, to sign the Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Agreement of firms, unions and non-governmental organisations aimed at ending the "appallingly unsafe factory conditions" in that country.

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