Discount clothing retailer Primark is set to pin a large element of its future growth on expansion into new markets, such as Poland and the wider Eastern Europe region, and "disciplined" store roll-outs in Spain and the US.

Discount clothing retailer Primark — which trades in Ireland as Penneys — has said that the relocation of its sourcing, buying, and merchandising functions from the UK to its Dublin headquarters will play a significant supporting role in its continuing international expansion.

Discount clothing retailer Primark is to move all of its buying, sourcing and merchandising staff and functions to its Dublin headquarters.

Primark has announced plans to move more than 200 of its UK-based jobs to Dublin.

In the three months to the first week of January, Primark grew sales by 4% on a year-on-year basis.

High street fashion giant Primark and online rival Boohoo will be among the next batch of retailers to report back on their festive fortunes.

Sales at Dublin-headquartered discount clothing retailer Primark fell in November, due to unseasonably warm weather.

Dublin-headquartered discount clothing retailer Primark is to focus on the US and eastern Europe for its international growth.

Online fashion retailer Boohoo has poached a top boss from Primark to take over as its new chief executive as part of a management shake-up.

An architect who specialises in the conservation of old buildings has described the challenge in restoring the Primark shop which was destroyed in a major fire, saying the expertise exists.

Officials are meeting in Belfast this afternoon to discuss what can be done to support staff hit by a major blaze at Primark in the city centre.

Fire crews are dealing with a major blaze at a Primark store in Belfast.

Dublin-headquartered discount clothing retailer Primark — which trades here as Penneys — is to stick with a cautious US expansion plan, with it set to adapt existing stores rather than open many more.

The owner of fashion retailer Primark, which trades in Ireland as Penneys, has said profit growth at the fashion retailer would accelerate thanks to a boost from the weak US dollar and a better buying performance.

Discount clothing retailer Primark has said it remains pleased with its performance in Ireland where it trades as Penneys but has declined to comment on plans by the Dealz chain to branch into clothing, in direct competition, writes Geoff Percival.

Primark, the low-cost clothing retailer headquartered in Dublin and which trades here as Penneys, has indicated that it is open to the idea of opening more stores in Ireland, writes Geoff Percival.

Clothing retailer Primark has returned to underlying sales growth, with low prices and warm weather driving a strong performance in the UK in its latest quarter, owner Associated British Foods has said.

Here's your morning news bulletin.

Primark is set to embark on its largest store expansion round in 10 years as it strengthens its presence in mainland Europe and the US on the back of a strong first half to its current financial year. Parent group Associated British Foods yesterday reported better-than- expected interim figures, showing group revenues of just under £7.3bn (€8.7bn) and operating profits of £640m — up 20% and 36% — for the six months to the first week of March.

Discount clothing retailer Primark has reported first quarter sales growth of 11%, on a constant currency basis, with “strongly positive” like-for-like sales seen in Ireland, where the company trades as Penneys.

Strong trading levels at its Irish operations helped drive an estimated 9% rise in sales at discount clothing retailer Primark in its latest financial year.

Primark has opened two more stores in the US, bringing the total number of Primark stores in America to five.

Primark owner, Associated British Foods (ABF), is sticking with its plans to expand the discount clothing retailer across Europe and the US despite market and currency uncertainty since Britain’s vote to leave the EU.

The father of a two-year-old abducted from a Primark store last April by girls aged 13 and 14 said the kidnappers used sweets as part of their plan to entice her away.

Weaker trading over the Christmas period created a marginal drag on first half revenues at discount clothing retailer Primark.

Irish-owned retailer Primark has opened its 300th store.

Conglomerates were all the rage in the 1960s, but fell out of fashion along with the beehive hairdo. Primark is about to remind us why. The fast-growing clothing operation is part of Associated British Foods (ABF), whose other businesses include sugar processing, food ingredients and brands such as Twinings Tea, as well as agriculture.

Primark has opened a flagship store in Madrid.

Associated British Foods, the company behind budget retailer Primark, has said a stronger pound and dollar would have a bigger-than-expected hit on full-year earnings and could weigh on profits in its new financial year.

A woman who claimed a Primark security guard grabbed her child from her while breastfeeding has been summoned to court.

Caroline Starmer shared her story on a breastfeeding support Facebook page.

A group of gunmen broke into a discount clothing store near Paris yesterday, trapping 18 people inside for hours, before fleeing and prompting a manhunt throughout the area, police said.

Primark’s expansion into the US is “well-advanced”, with the Dublin-headquartered discount clothing retailer set to open its first store there this year.

There have been two more reports of hand-sewn pleas for help from factory workers - one in Belfast and another in Wales.