Primark reports ‘pre-COVID’ shopper numbers

Low-cost giant retailer Primark has reported that the number of people visiting its stores in England and Wales since lockdown eased last week reached pre-pandemic levels.

It said the stores “delivered record sales” in the first week stores reopened after more than three months of closures.

Primark bucked the trend among High Street retailers by choosing not to cater for or shift towards online operations. The decision meant COVID restrictions hit the retailer particularly hard, with an estimated £1.1 billion (€1.26 billion) in lost sales.

Despite this, Primark said more than half of its stores broke their own sales records when they reopened last week.

Chief executive of Primark’s parent firm, Associated British Foods, commented that compared to previous reopenings, the company has experienced excellent demand, particularly in womenswear.

“We expect the period after the reopening of stores to be very cash-generative as we sell the higher-than-normal inventory on hand,” George Weston said.

"In line with our normal practice, we have placed substantial orders for merchandise for the coming autumn/winter season."

News of Primark’s positive post-lockdown results will likely be encouraging for local retailers. Malta’s non-essential shops and services are due to reopen next Monday, 26th April, after almost two months shut.