Fashion retailer Primark - which trades as Penneys here - has today announced an investment of over €50m in its Italian business.
The investment includes five new stores in the Italian cities of Turin, Livorno, Cosenza, Salerno and Genoa, and will bring Primark's total footprint in the country to 20 stores.
With the opening of the new shops, Primark said it will create around 600 new jobs across Italy, increasing its Italian workforce to over 5,000 employees.
Primark opened its first store in Italy eight years ago in the "Il Centro" shopping centre in Arese, Milan and it now has 15 stores across the country.
Most of the new stores in Italy will open next year while the store in Genoa is slated for a 2026 opening date.
Primark's latest investment in Italy is part of its growth plans to expand across new and existing markets with the aim of reaching 530 stores by 2026, including new US states and new European markets, such as Hungary.
Luca Ciuffreda, Director of Primark Italy, said that over the past eight years, Primark has seen significant growth across Italy, with 15 stores across 10 provinces, and with no intention of slowing down.
"Today we are proud to announce an ambitious investment in our store portfolio and long-term growth of Primark Italy," the director said.
"This exciting expansion plan will create employment and positively impact the local communities where we are opening," he added.
