Primark has announced plans for a major refit of its store in Newry.
The fast fashion chain has included its Buttercrane outlet in a 15 store refurbishment programme planned for this year.
The Newry store is the only Northern Ireland location included in Thursday’s announcement, which will see the retailer invest £100 million across its UK store estate during 2024.
It’s understood the last major refit of the two-floor unit at the Buttercrane centre took place more than a decade ago.
Although not included in the new announcement, Primark is also planning a major investment in Ballymena.
The fashion retailer is relocating to a new store at the Fairhill Shopping Centre as part of a £7m investment programme by its new owners.
Work started last month on the demolition of former Debenhams unit at Fairhill, which will allow the construction of Primark’s new outlet to begin later this year.
The new Ballymena store, which will see Primark relocate from the Tower Centre, is not expected to be open until 2025.
Primark has also invested significantly in its Northern Irish portfolio over the past two years.
It reopened its flagship Bank Buildings store in Belfast during November 2022 and in December 2022, opened its new anchor store at the Rushmere Shopping Centre in Craigavon.
The announcement of the £100m investment programme was made to mark the 50th anniversary of Primark’s first UK store.
The retailer, which was founded as Penneys in Dublin in 1969, made its move across the Irish Sea in 1974.
Unable to use the name Penneys outside the Republic, as it was registered by J.C. Penney, the name Primark was conceived for the UK market.
Now part of the ABF group, Primark now employs around 76,000 people across 432 stores in 16 countries, including ten stores in Northern Ireland.
Kari Rodgers, UK retail director at Primark said: “We’ve changed a lot in the fifty years since we opened the doors on our first store in Great Britain in Derby back in 1974, but at our heart, we are still the same.
“We’re as committed as ever to offering the very best value on the high street and making great fashion more affordable and accessible for everyone.
“This latest investment will mean bigger and better stores, hundreds of new jobs across the country and shows our ongoing commitment to the UK high street.”
