Primark is a retail group in the value sector and operates a total of 257 stores in Ireland (where it trades under the Penneys brand), the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, Austria and the UK. Primark employs over 45,000 people. Primark Stores Ltd is a subsidiary of Associated British Foods. ABF is a diversified international food, ingredients and retail group with global sales of £11.1bn, and 102,000 employees in 46 countries.

In the financial year 11/12, Primark opened 19 new stores and one relocation – nine in Spain, four stores in Germany and two in Portugal; one in The Netherlands and four stores in the UK.

Primark now operates from over 8.2 million sq ft of selling space and has 40 stores trading from over 50,000sq ft of which 11 trade from over 70,00sq ft. In the last financial year, 10,328 jobs were created.