Business1 min read

Primark brings forward home deliveries plan by two years after profits slide

By · Via The Guardian Business · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Primark will introduce UK home deliveries by December next year, moving the project forward two years to counter an earnings drop. While recent store openings boosted total revenue, established outlets struggled amid rising marketing spend and strategic price reductions. Parent company Associated British Foods secured a specialized robotic warehouse in Sheffield to manage the upcoming digital logistics. The operational shift arrives ahead of a broader corporate plan to spin off the clothing retailer into a standalone business in 2027.

Key points

  • The introduction of delivery and returns fees has made home shipping economically feasibl…: The introduction of delivery and returns fees has made home shipping economically feasible for the budget retailer.
  • Management is accelerating the digital transition to recover ground lost to online fast-f…: Management is accelerating the digital transition to recover ground lost to online fast-fashion competitors like Shein.
  • Suppliers are being trained to process direct-to-consumer packages alongside the company'…: Suppliers are being trained to process direct-to-consumer packages alongside the company's traditional bulk shipments.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Primark is to begin making home deliveries by the end of next year as it aims to win new shoppers after a slide in profits.

George Weston, the boss of the cut-price fashion chain’s owner Associated British Foods (ABF), said it had brought forward the launch of Primark’s home delivery plans by about two years.

The company was able to speed up the process by snapping up a robot-assisted warehouse in Sheffield from Debenhams, the owner of Boohoo, PrettyLittle Thing and Karen Millen.

Primark will take over the warehouse by the middle of next year and is working on preparing its suppliers to provide stock suitable for sending out to individual shoppers as well as the usual bulk orders for stores.

Primark already offers a click and collect service in the UK which it has gradually rolled out since 2022. The service is not available to its stores in mainland Europe.

The chain, which has 511 stores across 21 countries, will launch home deliveries in the UK by December next year. It intends to offer the service in mainland Europe…

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