Firm’s online boost despite no cyber sales

BUDGET fashion giant Primark has amassed 20 million social media followers – despite not even selling clothes online.

The chain grew its worldwide cyber following by seven million during the past year alone. Primark’s websites plug trends and its shop-sold clothes, including ranges created by online stars.

George Weston, boss of Primark owner Associated British Foods, said: “Customers start online but when they decide what they want they come to a store to get it.”

Weston said its cheap prices meant it would never make sense to begin selling online, considering the cost of deliveries and returns.

But the high street-only policy hasn’t held Primark back, with sales rising 4% to £7.8billion in the year to mid-September, and profits up 8% to £913million.

Growth was helped by store openings around the world, although takings in its UK branches open at least a year were down 1%.

Stores in France, Spain and the US did particularly well. ABF’s grocery arm, HIGH STREET Goods only sold in stores

which makes everything from Twinings tea and Kingsmill bread to Ryvita crispbreads, had a good year, with profits increasing by 13% to £380m.

The two big divisions helped offset a 79% slump in profits, to £26m, for ABF’s sugar arm.

The business, which owns Silver Spoon, was hit by lower EU sugar prices and a poor crop in China.

But analysts expect profits in the sugar division to bounce back to around £120m this year.

ABF’s group profits slipped 8% to £1.17bn as it was hit by losses caused by the sale or closure of businesses.