Primark cheered by busy Christmas

Budget retailer Primark saw sales boom over its Christmas trading quarter as it continues to build up its presence on the high street.

Primark owner Associated British Foods said total sales at its 232 stores across Europe were up 16% in the 16 weeks to January 7 compared to a year earlier.

It described the Primark sales performance as “exceptional” and while it did not provide a figure excluding store openings it said the like-for-like sales growth was “good”, helped by particularly strong trading over Christmas.

The period was a busy one for store openings as the company unveiled two new shops in the UK, including a flagship store on Edinburgh’s Princes Street.

Stores also opened in Spain, Germany, Portugal and the Netherlands, bringing the total number of openings for the quarter to nine. It has 156 stores in the UK.

Together with strong growth in its sugar business and an improved performance at its Kingsmill-branded Allied Bakeries division, AB Foods said revenues were 12% higher in the 16-week period.