Primark facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Primark Limited

The original shop on Mary Street, Dublin
Trade name	Penneys (in Ireland)
Type	Subsidiary
Industry	Retail
Founded	13 June 1969; 56 years ago (1969-06-13) in Dublin, Ireland
Founder	Arthur Ryan, Micaela Mitchell
Headquarters	Arthur Ryan House, 22–24 Parnell Street, Dublin , Ireland
Number of locations	Over 450 (2024)
Area served	Ireland United Kingdom Spain The Netherlands Portugal Germany Belgium Austria France Italy United States Slovenia Poland Czech Republic Romania Hungary Slovakia
Key people	Eoin Tonge (Interim Chief executive officer)
Products	Clothing cosmetics housewares
Revenue	£9,448 million (2024)
Number of employees	82,000 (2024)
Parent	Associated British Foods

Primark Limited is a large clothing and home goods store. It started in Dublin, Ireland. In Ireland, it is known as Penneys. Primark has many shops across Europe and in the United States. It is famous for selling trendy clothes and other items at affordable prices. The name "Penneys" is only used in Ireland because another company, JCPenney, owns the name in other countries.

History of Primark

The company's original logo from 1969

The very first shop opened in Dublin, Ireland, in June 1969. It was called Penneys. Arthur Ryan and Micaela Mitchell started it. This first shop is still open today!

Soon after, another Penneys shop opened in Finglas, Ireland. By 1971, bigger shops opened in Cork and Belfast. These were also called Penneys.

The company then grew outside of Ireland. In 1973, a shop opened in Derby, England. By 1974, there were 24 shops. Some were in Scotland and England, all named Penneys.

However, an American company called JC Penney already used the name "Penneys". They did not want the Irish company to use it. So, the Irish company changed the name of its shops in England to Primark in 1974. This new name came from a clothing brand they already had.

Eventually, the two companies made an agreement. From 1976, the Irish company would only use "Penneys" in the Republic of Ireland. All other shops, including those in Northern Ireland, would be called "Primark". In return, JC Penney agreed not to use their name in the Republic of Ireland. This is why it's Penneys in Ireland and Primark everywhere else!

The first Primark-branded logo from 1974

In 2005, Primark bought many shops from a UK retailer called Littlewoods. They kept 40 of these shops.

Primark started opening shops in mainland Europe in 2006. The first one was in Madrid, Spain. Then, they opened stores in the Netherlands, Portugal, Germany, and Belgium by 2009.

Arthur Ryan, who started the company, retired as the boss in 2009. He became the chairman instead. Paul Marchant took over as the new boss.

Primark continued to grow. They opened shops in Austria in 2012, France in 2013, and Italy in 2014.

In 2013, a factory building in Bangladesh collapsed. This factory made clothes for Primark and other brands. Primark gave a lot of money to help the people affected.

In 2015, Primark opened its main office in Dublin. It's called Arthur Ryan House. That same year, Primark opened its first shop in the United States in Boston. They later opened more in cities like New York City and Chicago.

The biggest Primark shop in the world opened in Birmingham, England, in 2019. It has five floors and even a beauty salon and a Disney-themed café! In 2022, it added the world's largest Greggs fast-food outlet. Primark also opened its first shop in Slovenia in 2019.

In March 2020, many Primark shops in the UK had to close temporarily. This was due to government rules during the COVID-19 pandemic. They lost a lot of sales during this time.

Primark opened its first shop in Poland in 2020. They later expanded to other Polish cities. In 2021, they opened their first shop in the Czech Republic in Prague.

In 2021, Primark announced a plan to be more sustainable. They want to reduce waste and cut down on carbon dioxide pollution. They also aim to improve the lives of their workers.

In 2022, Primark opened its first shop in Romania. They opened a second one in Bucharest in 2023.

In November 2022, Primark started a new "click-and-collect" service online. This means customers can order items online and pick them up at a shop. It started as a trial for children's products in some areas.

In 2024, Primark announced plans to open five new shops and update 15 others. They also opened a new distribution center in Florida, USA. In May 2024, Primark updated its logo to a new, bolder design.

Primark opened its first shop in Hungary in May 2024. They also plan to open more shops in Portugal by 2026. In June 2024, their shop in Lisbon became the largest single-floor Primark shop in the world.

In March 2025, Primark opened its first shop just for homeware in Belfast.

In May 2025, Primark announced plans to open shops in the Gulf region through a partnership. This includes a shop in Kuwait in October 2025, and three shops in Dubai in 2026.

Primark Shops Around the World

Primark has many shops in different countries. Here is a list of how many shops they have in each country:

Products You Can Find at Primark

Primark sells a wide variety of items. You can find clothes for babies, children, women, and men. They also sell accessories like bags and jewelry, and different types of shoes.

Besides clothes, Primark offers beauty products like makeup. They also have many items for your home, like decorations and kitchenware. You can even find sweets and snacks there! Primark is known for selling these items at very low prices compared to other stores.

In 2014, Primark started selling makeup. In 2018, they began offering vegan snacks.

Primark is part of a trend called "fast fashion." This means they sell trendy clothes very quickly and at low prices. This encourages shoppers to buy new outfits often.

In 2020, Primark launched its "Wellness collection." These products are made from materials that are better for the environment. This is part of Primark's effort to be more responsible.

Primark in the Media

In early 2024, a TV show called Inside Penneys was shown in Ireland. It was a six-part documentary that explored how the business works.

Working Towards Fair Practices

Primark works to make sure its products are made fairly. In 2006, they joined the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI). This group helps businesses work with unions and other organizations to improve workers' rights. Members of ETI agree to follow rules that protect workers.

Primark aims to reduce its environmental impact. In 2020, they joined the United Nations’ Fashion Charter. This means they are working to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. They are also focused on improving the lives of the people who make their clothes.

Images for kids

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  Primark shop at High Street in Birmingham, England, the largest in the chain

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  Primark shop at Gran Vía in Madrid, Spain, the second-largest in the chain

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  Interior of the Primark shop at Gran Vía in Madrid, Spain

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  Primark in the former Lewis's Building in Manchester city centre, Manchester, England

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  Primark in the Aqua Shopping Centre, Portimão, Algarve region, Portugal

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  Primark in the Ridings Centre, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England

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  Primark in The Hague, Netherlands

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  Penneys in the Wilton area of Cork, Ireland

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  Primark in the Downtown Crossing area of Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.

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  Primark in Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland

See also

In Spanish: Primark para niños