Primark

Primark is a discount clothing headquartered in Dublin in the Republic of Ireland. In Primark stores that offer several thousand square feet of retail in general, textiles are sold at very low prices. The largest branch is located in Manchester, England with a sales area of ​​9,300 m², which extend over three floors. In Germany Primark is represented by the Essen-based since 2012 Primark Germany GmbH. The largest store with 8,700 sqm is located in Hannover, but distributed here over four floors.

Founded in 1969, is active in many European countries and now has 257 stores with about 27,500 employees. In the Republic of Ireland all stores operate under the name Penneys. Primark is a subsidiary of the British food giant Associated British Foods ( ABF ), and is ultimately controlled by the Weston family through Wittington Investments.

History

In June 1969, the company Associated British Foods ( Penneys ) opened its first store on Dublin's Mary Street. Within a year, more stores were opened in the Greater Dublin area, before 1971, the first store outside Dublin was opened in Cork City. In 1974 made ​​openings of the first UK stores in shopping streets in Derby and Bristol. 1984 took place with the purchase of five Irish Woolworth stores the first multiple inheritance instead. After 1992, the BHS (British Home Stores ) had withdrawn from Ireland, a major flagship store in O'Connell Street was purchased in Dublin. As withdrew the company C & A from Britain in 2000, Primark acquired eleven of the branches. In May 2006, Primark opened in Madrid the first store outside of Ireland and the UK. Since late 2008 Primark is also represented in the Netherlands and in 2009 was followed by the first store in Germany where Primark (twice), Gelsenkirchen, Dortmund, Dusseldorf, Hanover, Saarbrücken, Essen, Berlin and Karlsruhe currently represented at the sites Bremen, Frankfurt am Main is. A further expansion is planned. Also in 2009, the first stores were opened in Portugal and Belgium. The first store in Austria followed in September 2012 in Innsbruck. Two more stores are located in Vienna.

Criticism

In November 2011, the company was in Germany on a PR campaign for journalists. Media representatives were given at the opening of the Primark store in Hanover, in addition to various memorabilia and information materials also referred to as a "gift card" voucher for 50 euros. The NDR - media magazine Zapp described this as " Dope PR " and criticized lack of contact options for critical demands on the Primark website.

Hubertus Thiermeyer, Regional department head trade of the United Services Union in Bavaria, is aimed at buyers with the words: " Anyone who buys a T-shirt for two euros, need to know that someone else is the price to pay for it. " Björn Weber (Head of Germany branch of trade research firm Planet Retail ) said: " the working conditions are catastrophic. " the seamstresses in Bangladesh would have to work seven days a week twelve hours.

In 2013 it came into Bangladesh to the collapse of a textile factory in Sabhar with 1127 dead and 2438 injured. Even Primark had let produce there.