PRIMARK ON A HIGH... BUT NOT IN THE BIGGEST CITIES

SHOPPERS have flocked back to Primark since the lockdown ended.

The company, which does not have an online operation, was forced to close its stores in March and April as strict rules were imposed due to coronavirus.

By the end of July they were open again and in the last four weeks Primark’s share of the clothing market hit its highestever level.

John Bason, finance director at Primark owner AB Foods, said: ‘Not only have we come back, we’ve come back strongly.’

Primark is expecting post-lockdown sales to hit £2bn by the end of its financial year on September 12. However, that would still be 12pc lower than the same period last year on a like-for-like basis. Even since shops began to reopen in May, business has been particularly slow in its four biggest city centre ‘destination’ stores, in Birmingham, Manchester and London, as commuters have stayed at home and shoppers have preferred to stay local.

Primark said that excluding those four stores sales are running just 5pc lower than last year.

But Bason said he was not concerned about the future of Britain’s once-bustling shopping hotspots. ‘City centre stores are a reflection of very little tourism and commuters becoming more comfortable returning to offices. Will all of them come back? Probably not, but we’re not at the end point yet.

Primark said its full-year profits would be at least at the top end of the £300m to £350m range it set out in July. Last year it made £913m – underlining just how costly the pandemic has been.

The chain is still planning to open 14 stores next year, including four in Spain.

ABF, which also owns a roster of grocery brands such as Twinings and Ovaltine, said food sales were also better than expected in the three months to September 12.