Fast fashion retailer Primark is to expand into France with new stores in Marseilles and Dijon ahead of a flagship opening on the Cote d‘Azur, it has been reported.
Initially opening a store in the Grand Littoral mall in Marseilles, the Dijon store will then follow while the retailer is considering a push into the French capital, The Telegraph reported.
Primark already has a strong presence in Europe following growth in Spain in recent years and the retailer opened an additional six stores in the country since H1 2012 as well as two in Germany, two in Austria and an additional unit in the Netherlands as it focuses on strengthening its hold on the value fashion market.
However, Primark owner Associated British Foods (ABF) has not updated the market since the end of April, during which time Primark has been scrutinised over its safety practices after it emerged that the retailer used suppliers from the Rana Plaza garment factory in Bangladesh, which collapsed in April killing over 1,100 people.
ABF Finance Chief John Bason welcomed this new period of expansion and explained that Primark is well-placed to drive growth.
“France is well known for its high-end labels but there‘s a mainstream as well,” he said.
“We know the French like Primark from the credit card receipts in our Oxford Street store and from the business we do at our German store in Saarbrucken, which is close to the border.
“We will bring the fashions the French want, at the lowest prices and in a great store environment.”
