The first Primark store outside the UK and Ireland was opened today at the Plenilunio Shopping Centre, outside Madrid in Spain. Primark trades under the Pennys brand in Ireland.
The Spanish store opening brings to 128 the company of Primark outlets.
Primark is planning to open another 46 stores during the year. The next store openings include Surrey on May 23, Leeds on May 26 and Ayr in Scotland in June.
The company has a workforce of over 15,600.
'Our research has show that the Spanish market offers huge opportunities to continue the success of our brand and we look forward very much to capturing a share of this competitive marketplace,' a statement from the company said.
Primark is a subsidiary of Associated British Foods. Today it said it had agreed to buy 51% of Africa's biggest sugar producer, Illovo, for £317m sterling in cash, as it looks to meet the challenge of European sugar reforms.
