Primark is a subsidiary company of the ABF (Associated British Foods) Group. The company launched in 1969 in Ireland trading as Penny’s. By 2000, there were over 100 Primark stores across Britain and Ireland. By 2012 Primark had 238 branches across the UK, Ireland and Europe.
Primark offers innovative, fashionable clothes at value-for-money prices. Like many retail fashion businesses, Primark does not manufacture goods itself: it works with its suppliers to produce goods to Primark’s specification. Primark relies on low costs, economies of scale and efficient distribution to maintain its competitive market position.
- Edition 20 Beyond corporate social responsibilityThis corporate responsibility case study looks at Primark’s involvement in the HERproject (Health Enables Returns) which is raising awareness and delivering healthcare education to female workers in supplier countries.
- Edition 16 Engaging with stakeholdersThis stakeholders case study looks at how Primark engages with some of its key external stakeholders.
- Edition 15 Providing consumers with ethically sourced garmentsThis ethics case study shows how Primark sources the clothes it sells in its shops in an ethical and fair way, often at added cost to itself.