Primark's expansion continues with 26th outlet in Spain

PRIMARK (PENNEYS) has stepped up its European expansion with the official opening at the weekend of its 26th store in Spain.

With seven outlets in Madrid alone, Primark employs 3,500 people throughout Spain and its sales growth continues to buck retail trends.

The number of shops across Ireland, Britain, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, Germany and Belgium has grown to 236.

Located in a new shopping centre in Majadahonda, 16km (10 miles) outside Madrid, the new shop covers 32,000sq ft over two floors. It was opened by Irish descendant and fashion entrepreneur Covadonga O’Shea.

She founded Spain’s first fashion business school, Isem, at the University of Navarra in 2001 and is a descendant of an Irish family who left Limerick for Malaga in the 17th century. “We are honoured to have someone of Irish descent open our store given Primark’s roots in Ireland,” said chief executive Paul Marchant.

A well-known figure in the Spanish fashion industry, O’Shea established Telva magazine, a popular glossy fashion monthly, in 1985, where she was chief executive for 17 years.

She is a long-standing member of Opus Dei, is a well-known writer and author, and her recent biography of Amancio Ortega, the notoriously publicity-shy billionaire founder of Zara, has become a best-seller.

“When we open in a new country, we like to look for educational establishments to make a link and as she is the president of a fashion business college, we called her up and as a result built a good relationship with her in Spain,” said Primark director Breege O’Donoghue. “Two of her MBA students worked in our Dublin office last year.”

O’Shea comes from a well-connected and interesting family. Her sister Paloma, a celebrated pianist and founder of an internationally famous piano competition, was promoted to Marchioness O’Shea by King Juan Carlos for her contribution to the musical culture of the country.

Paloma O’Shea is married to Emilio Botin, the president of Bank Santander, Spain’s biggest bank, and their daughter Carmen is the former wife of late golfing legend Seve Ballesteros.

Primark’s recent expansion in Spain at a time of record unemployment – at 24 per cent the highest in the EU – is reflected in the huge number of job applications it has received. There were 21,000 applicants for 190 jobs for its store in Alicante, which opened five weeks ago, and 9,000 for 166 jobs in Cordoba.

“Primark’s attraction is that it is fashion value for money for all the family in a contemporary environment,” Ms O’Donoghue said.

Seven more shops will open in Spain later in the year, Valencia being the next on May 23rd.