Primark

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Template:Short description Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Hatnote list' not found. Template:DMCA Template:DMCA

Page Module:Infobox/styles.css has no content.Page Template:Infobox company/styles.css has no content.

Primark Limited
Primark
Penneys (in Ireland)
FormerlyPenneys (outside of Ireland, 1969–1976)
Company type
Subsidiary
ISINScript error: No such module "WikidataIB".
IndustryScript error: No such module "WikidataIB".
PredecessorScript error: No such module "WikidataIB".
IncorporatedScript error: No such module "WikidataIB".
FoundedScript error: No such module "WikidataIB".
FounderScript error: No such module "WikidataIB".
DefunctScript error: No such module "WikidataIB".
SuccessorScript error: No such module "WikidataIB".
HeadquartersArthur Ryan House, 22–24 Parnell Street,
Dublin
,
Ireland
Number of locations
476[1] (2025)
Area served
Page Template:Plainlist/styles.css has no content.
  • Ireland
  • United Kingdom
  • Spain
  • The Netherlands
  • Portugal
  • Germany
  • Belgium
  • Austria
  • France
  • Italy
  • United States
  • Slovenia
  • Poland
  • Czech Republic
  • Romania
  • Hungary
  • Slovakia
  • Kuwait
  • United Arab Emirates
Key people
Eoin Tonge (CEO)[2]
ProductsPage Template:Hlist/styles.css has no content.
RevenueScript error: No such module "WikidataIB".
Script error: No such module "WikidataIB".
Script error: No such module "WikidataIB".
Total assetsScript error: No such module "WikidataIB".
Number of employees
Script error: No such module "WikidataIB".
ParentAssociated British Foods
Websiteprimark.com
Footnotes / references
[3][4]

Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for deprecated parameters".

File:Penneys logo 1969.png
The company's original logo introduced in 1969
File:Primark logo 1974.svg
The company's first Primark-branded logo introduced in 1974

Primark Limited[6][7] (/ˈpraɪ.mɑːrk/; trading as Penneys in Ireland)[8][9] is an Irish multinational retailer specialising in fast fashion.[10] It is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland,[11] with 476 shops in Europe and in the United States and franchised shops in Kuwait and Dubai. The company was founded as Penneys; however, that brand hasn't been used outside of the Republic of Ireland since 1976 because of a trademark conflict with American retailer JCPenney. Primark is owned by Associated British Foods.

Primark sells clothing, accessories and footwear, beauty products, housewares, and confectionery.

It is a member of the UN Fashion Charter[12][13] and the Ethical Trading Initiative.[14] As of 2025, 74% of its garments use recycled fibers.[15]

The company has been criticised for sourcing products from suppliers with poor working conditions in investigations by War on Want, BBC News, as well as from notes found by alleged workers in clothing; however, some of these notes and footage have been determined to be fabricated or hoaxes.[16][17][18][19][20]

History

20th century

The company's first shop, named Penneys and still in operation today, was established at 47 Mary Street in Dublin by Arthur Ryan and his business partner Micaela Mitchell[5] in June 1969 on behalf of the Weston family, who had founded Allied Bakeries Limited in 1935, which was later renamed Associated British Foods (ABF).[3][21]

The first major shops outside of Dublin were opened in the cities of Cork and Belfast in 1971, both under the name of Penneys.[22][23]

The company opened a shop in Derby in 1973, marking its first expansion into Great Britain.[22] By 1974, it had 24 shops, including three in Scotland and two in England, all operating under the Penneys brand.[23]

JC Penney, an American company, opposed the use of Penneys as a business name. JC Penney registered the various business names of PenneysTemplate:' parent company in countries throughout Europe, in order to put pressure on it to relinquish its registration of the Penneys brand, and issued court proceedings disputing the use of the brand. Following an injunction granted by the High Court of England in June 1974, the two shops in England were rebranded as Primark, named after the in-house clothing brand that had been introduced early on.[24] However, the Penneys brand continued to be used in Ireland and Scotland, and in 1975–1976, four more Penneys-branded shops were opened in Scotland and Northern Ireland.[23]

In a settlement of the trademark dispute, Penneys/Primark agreed that from 27 August 1976 onward, it would only use the Penneys brand in the Republic of Ireland, with its shops elsewhere, including in Northern Ireland, to be rebranded as Primark. In exchange, JC Penney agreed to relinquish its registration of the various business names of Primark's parent companies throughout Europe, and agreed not to trade under the Penneys brand in the Republic of Ireland.[23] Since that date, it has been known as Penneys in the Republic of Ireland and as Primark elsewhere.[3]

21st century

In 2005, Primark acquired UK retailer Littlewoods's retail shops for £409 million, retaining 40 of the 119 shops and selling the remainder.[25]

In May 2006, the first Primark shop in mainland Europe opened in Madrid, Spain.[26] In December 2008, it expanded into the Netherlands, followed by Portugal, Germany and Belgium in 2009.[27]

In January 2009, a supplier was forced by the Ethical Trading Initiative to remove its branding from Primark shops and websites following a BBC/The Observer investigation into the employment practices. The investigation alleged the use of illegal immigrant labour and argued that the workers were paid less than the UK legal minimum wage.[28]

In July 2009, having led the company since its foundation in 1969, Arthur Ryan retired as Chief Executive and became Chairman instead. He was replaced as Chief Executive by the company's Chief Operating Officer, Paul Marchant.[29][30]

Primark expanded into Austria in 2012, France in 2013, and Italy in 2014.[27]

On 24 April 2013, in the Rana Plaza collapse, a manufacturing facility for Primark and other international brands, collapsed, killing 1,134 people. Primark was the largest contributor of compensation, paying over US$10 million for deceased, missing, and injured claims.[31]

From 2014, Primark began selling makeup products.[32]

Primark opened its current headquarters in 2015 in a redeveloped Dublin building, Arthur Ryan House, formerly Chapel House.[33][34]

In 2015, Primark opened its first United States shop, in Boston.[35]

Primark started selling vegan snacks from January 2018.[36]

In April 2019, Primark opened its largest shop to date, occupying Birmingham's former Pavilions Shopping Centre of Template:Cvt, with five floors including a beauty salon, Disney-themed café and a barbershop, and adding the largest Greggs fast-food outlet in the world in February 2022.[37][38] In June 2019, it expanded to Slovenia with a shop in Ljubljana.[39]

In February 2020, Primark launched a Wellness collection, which includes 80 products made of organic, sustainable or recycled materials.[40][41]

In August 2020, Primark opened its first shop in Poland, in the Galeria Młociny shopping centre in Warsaw.[42] This was followed by shops in Poznań, Kraków, Katowice, Wrocław and Łódź in 2021.[43] In June 2021, it opened its first shop in the Czech Republic, occupying an area of Template:Cvt in Prague and serving as a flagship for the region of Central and Eastern Europe.[44]

In November 2022, Primark introduced an online shopping service, inspired by losses during the COVID-19 lockdowns.[45][46]

In December 2022, Primark expanded into Romania.[47][48]

In May 2024, Primark unveiled a new brand identity, revealing a more curved and bold logo based on its 2005 logo, along with changing the colour slightly.[49]

In May 2024, Primark expanded into Hungary.[50]

In June 2024, Primark opened an extension to its Colombo Centre, Lisbon shop, which, at 6,038 square metres (64,990 sq ft), made it the largest single-floor Primark shop in the world.[51][52]

In March 2025, in Belfast, Primark opened its first ever standalone homeware shop.[53]

In March 2025, Paul Marchant resigned as CEO of Primark following an investigation into inappropriate behaviour towards a woman in a social setting. Marchant admitted to an error in judgement, apologised to the individual, the ABF board and his colleagues, and accepted that his actions fell below the company's expected standards. Eoin Tonge, ABF's finance director, was appointed as interim CEO.[54][55] Tonge was confirmed as permanent CEO in March 2026.[2]

In May 2025, Primark entered into a franchise agreement with Alshaya Group to open four shops in the Arabian Peninsula, with one shop in Kuwait and three in Dubai.[56] The shop in Kuwait opened in October 2025.[57]

In August 2025, the business launched a mobile app.[58]

Corporate affairs

Key trends for Primark (financial years ending 17 September)[59]
Year Revenue
(£m) 		Adjusted
operating
profit
(£m) 		Number of
employees
(1000s) 		Number
of shops 		Number of
served
countries 		Selling space
(million
sq ft)
2014 6,950 662 54 278 9 10.2
2015 5,347 673 61 293 10 11.1
2016 5,949 689 68 315 11 12.3
2017 7,053 735 73 345 11 13.8
2018 7,477 843 75 360 11 14.8
2019 7,792 913 78 373 12 15.6
2020 5,895 362 70 384 13 16.2
2021 5,593 321 71 398 14 16.8
2022 7,697 756 72 408 14 17.3
2023 9,008 735 76 432 16 18.1
2024 9,448 1,108 82 451 17 18.7
2025 9,489 1,126 82.6 473 17 19.5
Primark shops by country
Country Number
of shops
England 157[60]
Spain 63[61]
United States 40[62]
Republic of Ireland 38[63][64]
Germany 32[65]
France 27[66]
Scotland 21[67]
Netherlands 21[68]
Italy 16[61]
Portugal 10[61]
Northern Ireland 9[69]
Belgium 8[70]
Poland 8[71]
Wales 8[72]
Austria 5
Romania 4[73]
Czech Republic 3[74]
Slovenia 1[75]
Hungary 1[76]
Slovakia 1[77]
Kuwait 1
Total 460

In January 2024, RTÉ broadcast a six-part documentary, entitled Inside Penneys, exploring the workings of the company.[78][79]

References

Page Template:Reflist/styles.css has no content.

  1. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.O'Mahony, Proinsias (10 November 2025). "Penneys moment: Could a long-awaited spin-off finally pay off?". The Irish Times.
  2. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Gleeson, Colin. "Irishman Eoin Tonge appointed chief executive of Primark". The Irish Times.
  3. ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."A household Irish name built from humble beginnings: The Penneys story". TheJournal.ie. 1 March 2015.
  4. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Annual Report and Accounts". Associated British Foods. 2024.
  5. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Jones, David (11 July 2008). "Fashion Swing is felt by Penney's". The Independent. Dublin.
  6. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Primark Limited". Solo Check.
  7. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Primark Limited". Companies Registration Office.
  8. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Horton, Helena (15 August 2017). "Primark reveals how to pronounce its name". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Penneys owner eyes significant growth in full-year profit". 23 April 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024 – via www.rte.ie.
  10. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Faster, cheaper fashion". The Economist. 5 September 2015.
  11. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Primark Holdings". SoloCheck.ie.
  12. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Shearsmith, Tom (29 October 2020). "Primark joins the UN Fashion Charter". TheIndustry.fashion.
  13. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Fashion Charter - Participants". United Nations Climate Change.
  14. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Report on Primark inquiry". Ethical Trading Initiative. 19 January 2010.
  15. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Hill, Eloise (28 November 2025). "Primark increases products made using recycled fibres". Retail Gazette.
  16. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Fashion Victims II" (PDF). War on Want.
  17. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Burrell, Ian; Hickman, Martin (16 June 2011). "BBC crisis over 'fake' sweatshop scene in Primark documentary". The Independent. London.
  18. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Primark investigates claim of 'cry for help' note in trousers". BBC News. 25 June 2014.
  19. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.McDonald, Henry (25 June 2014). "Primark denies purchasing clothes made in forced labour camps or prisons". The Guardian.
  20. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Cherrington, Rosy (21 December 2015). "Man Finds Letter Claiming To Be From Chinese Torture Victim In Primark Socks". HuffPost.
  21. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Jones, David (11 July 2008). "Fashion swing is felt by Penneys' owners". Irish Independent. Dublin. Reuters.
  22. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.O'Neill, Louise (19 January 2014). "Why Penneys is no longer our little secret". Irish Examiner. Dublin.
  23. ^ a b c d Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."78/193/EEC: Commission Decision of 23 December 1977 relating to a proceeding under Article 85 of the EEC Treaty (IV/29.246 – Penneys)". Commission of the European Communities. 23 December 1977.
  24. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Malone, Emmet; Slater, Sarah (3 August 2025). "Hilary Weston, who helped build Penneys and Brown Thomas, has died aged 83". The Irish Times.
  25. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Finch, Julia (8 August 2005). "M&S to cash in as Littlewoods disappears". The Guardian. London.
  26. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Fuchs, Dale (20 May 2006). "Primark comes to Spain". The Guardian. Madrid.
  27. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Ruddick, Graham (16 December 2013). "Primark targets chic French shoppers as it opens in Marseille". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  28. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.McDougall, Dan (11 January 2009). "Primark in storm over conditions at UK supplier". The Guardian. London.
  29. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Ryan to resign as Primark chief". Irish Examiner. 16 July 2009.
  30. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Arthur Ryan obituary: Legendary retailer and Penneys founder". The Irish Times. 12 July 2019.
  31. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Primark make $9m pay-out over disaster". Irish Examiner. 17 March 2014.
  32. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Partington, Lucy (5 March 2014). "Primark has got a brand new makeup range". Cosmopolitan.
  33. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Primark officially opens redeveloped Dublin HQ". RTÉ News. 17 September 2015.
  34. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.McCabe, Sarah (29 November 2013). "Expansion plans on course for Penneys international HQ in Dublin". Irish Independent. Dublin.
  35. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Ruddick, Graham (23 April 2014). "Primark to open in the United States". The Daily Telegraph.
  36. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Chiorando, Maria (29 January 2018). "Budget Chain Primark Starts Selling Vegan Snack Range". Plant Based News.
  37. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Young, Graham (19 July 2019). "100 days of the world's biggest Primark – and Mickey Mouse pancakes". Birmingham Mail.
  38. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Young, Graham (11 February 2022). "First look inside the world's biggest Greggs in Primark – with a doughnut swing". Birmingham Mail.
  39. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Primark opens its first store in Slovakia". RTÉ News. 25 May 2023.
  40. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Primark's new Wellness collection has landed and prices start from just £2". The Mail on Sunday. 5 March 2020.
  41. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.White, Emma (5 March 2020). "Primark's brand new Wellness Collection is here and we want everything". Woman & Home.
  42. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Whelan, Grace (20 August 2020). "Primark makes Polish debut". Drapers.
  43. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Primark opens store in Poznań on March 25". Warsaw Business Journal. 15 March 2021.
  44. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Nine new brands have entered the Czech market in H1 2021". Cushman & Wakefield. 19 June 2021.
  45. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Primark finally goes online with click-and-collect". BBC News. 14 November 2022.
  46. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Primark website crashes as click-and-collect launched". BBC News. 14 November 2022.
  47. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Primark to open first shop in Romania before Christmas". Romania-Insider.com. 18 November 2022.
  48. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Primark opens its first store in Romania". RTÉ News. 15 December 2022.
  49. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Wright, Georgia (21 May 2024). "Primark unveils 'refreshed' brand identity and new summer campaign – Retail Gazette".
  50. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Manock, Emily (28 May 2024). "Primark opens first store in Hungary". Drapers.
  51. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Bresic, Trelawney (24 June 2024). "Primark, Portugal: expansion and new jobs". EuroWeekly News.
  52. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Burke, Jade (20 June 2024). "Primark ramps up Portuguese store expansion". Drapers.
  53. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Kelly, Justin (6 March 2025). "Penneys open first Irish store dedicated to homewares amid huge excitement". Limerick Leader. Limerick.
  54. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Onita, Laura (31 March 2025). "Primark chief Paul Marchant resigns after investigation into inappropriate behaviour". The Irish Times.
  55. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Irish man given nod to head up Penneys was cutting his teeth in business at 21". The Irish Times. 31 March 2025.
  56. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Wright, Georgia (9 May 2025). "Primark to enter Middle East market with four stores by 2026 - Retail Gazette".
  57. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Weston, Sabina (23 October 2025). "Primark opens first Middle East store in Kuwait". Drapers.
  58. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Bruce, Anne (5 August 2025). "Primark app launches in Ireland and Italy". Drapers.
  59. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Annual Reports". Associated British Foods.
  60. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Mata, William (13 June 2025). "Primark to set up first homeware shop in major shopping centre". LBC.
  61. ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Keogh, Olive (21 July 2024). "Primark's Irish man in Spain: 'We sell roughly the same number of coats in Madrid as we do in Dublin'". The Irish Times.
  62. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Primark sets opening for first Manhattan store in Herald Square". New York Business Journal. 20 April 2026. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  63. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Dooley, Hugh (25 June 2025). "Penneys parent Primark to cut about 100 jobs from Dublin HQ". The Irish Times.
  64. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Penneys chief Eoin Tonge: 'We are the best in the world in pyjamas'". The Irish Times.
  65. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Boland, Hannah (8 November 2022). "Primark mulls retreat from Germany after suffering £200m hit". The Daily Telegraph.
  66. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Deslandes, Marion (26 March 2024). "Primark set to open five new stores in France between 2024 and 2025". Fashion Network.
  67. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Kennedy, John (9 December 2024). "Four countries in one day for Primark". Think Business.
  68. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Fish, Isabella (22 April 2021). "First look: Primark's new Rotterdam store". Drapers.
  69. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Bird, Alice (20 December 2022). "Primark opens new Northern Ireland store - Insider Media". Insider Media.
  70. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Fletcher, Madeleine (18 June 2019). "Primark store on Rue Neuve more than doubles in size following renovation". The Brussels Times.
  71. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Primark wzmacnia swoją obecność w Polsce, zapowiadając dwa nowe sklepy na północy kraju". corporate.primark.com (in polski). Archived from the original on 8 December 2025. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  72. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Primark staff in Wales celebrate as they announce £1 million raised". Noahs Ark Children's Hospital Charity. 21 July 2024.
  73. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Primark to Open Fourth Store in Romania in September". Romania Journal. 21 August 2025.
  74. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Primark to open a third store in Czechia by the end of 2024". Ex Pats CZ. 6 September 2024.
  75. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Quann, Jack (13 June 2019). "Penneys opens first store in Slovenia". Newstalk.
  76. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Primark opens its first store in Hungary amid expansion". RTÉ News. 28 May 2024.
  77. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Primark opens its first store in Slovakia". RTÉ News. 25 May 2023.
  78. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Fetherston, Sinann (8 January 2024). "Trend forecaster on bringing "an evolution of styles" to Penneys". RTÉ.
  79. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Power, Ed (9 January 2024). "Inside Penneys: A starry-eyed love letter to one of Ireland's great success stories". The Irish Times.

Page Module:Side box/styles.css has no content.Page Template:Sister project/styles.css has no content.

Page Template:Plainlist/styles.css has no content.
Script error: No such module "Sister project logo".
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Primark.Template:Preview warning

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Navbox/configuration' not found. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Authority control/config' not found.

Retrieved from "https://cosmopedia.co/index.php?title=Primark&oldid=1065571"