As exclusively revealed in Retail Week (October 5, 2007), Primark is to open its first stores in Germany, Portugal and the Netherlands next year.
John Bason, finance director of Primark parent company Associated British Foods, told The Times: “We now feel that we can develop on all fronts.”
Bason added that the success of Primark’s first five stores in Spain showed the concept could work on the Continent, despite the dominance of rivals such as H&M and Zara. He said there was potential for 50 Primark stores in Spain.
Primark, founded as Penneys in Dublin in 1969 by Arthur Ryan, is on course to take M&S’s crown as the nation’s favourite clothes shop after its market share rose 2 per cent in the past year.
Bason added that Primark’s expansion would follow the model used in Spain. “We are interested in Germany, Portugal and the Benelux countries and are looking at opening our first stores in 2009.
“This is not a hedge. This is not us moving into Central Europe because we are thinking the UK has gone as far as it can. We still see some good growth in the UK and Ireland,” he said.
> On Sunday, Channel 4 was poised to screen a documentary entitled The devil wears Primark, billed as an exposé of low-cost high street clothing. The programme was pulled at the last minute with Channel 4 citing an incomplete story for the withdrawal. Primark declined to comment.
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