Having been forced to close all 232 of its UK stores, Matalan secured £25m in guaranteed loans and support from its founder, John Hargreaves, 76, to help it get through the pandemic. Online sales and delivery continued during the lockdown and it began reopening its UK stores in May after homeware was declared essential retail. It is led by chief executive Jason Hargreaves, 51, who is John’s son. In June, the company said Steve Johnson had become its new chairman, replacing John Mills.