Primark had to mark down prices to shift stock in important trading periodShares in Primark owner Associated British Foods plunged in London after it warned that the retailer has had a challenging start to the year. “Primark has had a challenging start to the financial year, with a mixed performance,” said ABF chief executive George Weston. Sales growth at Primark in the 16 weeks to January 3 was below the group’s previous expectations. The UK and Ireland account for 45pc of Primark’s sales, with continental Europe accounting for 49pc. In the UK, Primark delivered sales growth of around 3pc in the trading period, with like-for-like sales growth of around 1.7pc in what it said was a difficult clothing market, particularly over Christmas.

Source: Irish Independent January 08, 2026 20:36 UTC