Primark reaches new growth milestone as it opens its 500th store

Primark has reached a major milestone with the opening of its 500th store in Naples, Italy yesterday (1st September), underlining the enduring strength of its store-led model and continued international growth.

From a single store in Dublin, Ireland, in 1969, Primark has grown to serve millions of customers across 19 countries in Europe, the US and Middle East. Together, its 500 stores represent around 20 million square feet of retail space, bringing Primark’s distinctive combination of great fashion, quality and unbeatable value to customers around the world. Today, Primark employs more than 80,000 colleagues representing 190 nationalities. Its distinctive store-led operating model remains central to its customer proposition and a key competitive advantage as the business continues to grow internationally.

Speaking at the opening of its 500^th store in Naples today, Eoin Tonge, Chief Executive of Primark, said: “Reaching 500 stores is an incredible milestone and we’re so grateful to our loyal customers, suppliers and partners who have grown with us and most of all, our colleagues for everything they do.

We’re very proud of the role our stores play in the communities, towns and economies they’re part of.  Getting to 500 demonstrates the enduring strength of our store-led model. We see significant opportunities ahead to grow our store footprint and bring Primark to even more customers around the world.”

From Manhattan to Milan, Manchester to Madrid, Primark has invested in creating distinctive retail destinations on high streets, shopping centres and retail parks around the world. Its stores give it scale, visibility and a direct connection with millions of customers, bringing together Primark’s value leadership with quality product offering within Primark’s unique store experience.

As its footprint has grown, Primark has continued to evolve the role of its stores in strengthening its customer proposition. New formats, services and experiences are giving customers more reasons to visit, while investment in digital capabilities – including its website, stock checker, app and Click & Collect – is making it easier for customers to discover and visit a Primark store.

Every Primark store also represents a long-term investment in the people and places around it. Independent research has demonstrated the wider role Primark stores can play as anchors for high streets and shopping destinations – creating jobs, attracting footfall and generating additional spending for surrounding businesses.*

Primark’s 500-store estate is as varied as the communities it serves, spanning local shopping centres and retail parks through to flagship destinations on some of the world’s best-known shopping streets. Many have their own distinctive history, with Primark having transformed and restored buildings including former cinemas, music halls and banks into thriving retail destinations.

Celebrating the milestone and officially opening store 500 in Naples yesterday morning, Primark CEO Eoin Tonge was joined by members of Primark’s Leadership Team and senior Italian leadership team, alongside the Mayor of Pompei, Giuseppe Tortora, to cut the signature blue ribbon.

The store in La Cartiera shopping centre represents a €8 million investment, and today’s opening will be swiftly followed this week with three further store openings in Portugal, Romania and the largest shopping centre in the US, Mall of America.

The Path to 500 

1969 – The first ever store opens in Dublin, Ireland, trading as Penneys. This is still the name above the 38 stores in Ireland today

1974 – Its first store in England opens in Derby. Today, there are 190+ stores across the UK, Primark’s largest market

2006 – Hola España! The first store opens in Madrid, Spain where Primark now operate 65+ stores

2008 – The first store in The Netherlands opens in Rotterdam, with 19 in the market today

2009 – European expansion ramps up as Primark sets down roots in Portugal, Germany and Belgium with stores in Lisbon, Bremen, and Liege

2012 – Primark enter the Austrian market, with a store in Innsbruck, the first of 5 stores in the country

2013 – Primark opens its doors in Marseille, the first in France and now one of 30 stores in the country

2015 – This was the year Primark finally crossed the Atlantic, and opened its doors in the US, in Boston, still the US headquarters today

2016 – Doors open in Arese, the first store in Italy. Today there are 20+ stores in Italy, including the Milan flagship store and regional office

2019 – The world’s biggest Primark opens in Birmingham, UK, featuring five floors, and over 160,000 feet of retail space. The business also entered Central Eastern Europe, in Ljubljana, Slovenia

2020 – Nothing unlucky about Poland as it becomes the 13th market with the opening of a new store in Warsaw

2021 – The Czech Republic becomes the 14th market with a new store in Prague

2022 – Continuing expansion, Primark opened its first store in Romania, the 15th market, in the capital of Bucharest

2023 – A new store in Bratislava, Slovakia, represents the 16th market

2024 – The business continues its expansion in Central and Eastern Europe entering its 17th market, Hungary, with the opening of a store in Budapest.

2025 – Following the announcement of a strategic partnership with leading international retail franchise operator Alshaya Group, Primark opens its doors in the Middle East for the first time in Kuwait

2026 – Primark takes another bite of the Big Apple and opens its landmark flagship store at Herald Square in Manhattan. The opening of the Naples store in September, brings Primark to the magic 500 number.

*2024 UK research by Public First found that Primark supports £2.6 billion in economic activity annually, while 2.3 million people each week cite Primark as the main reason for visiting their local high street. For every £10 spent at Primark, customers visiting its stores spend an additional £3.60 in surrounding shops and restaurants.