Primark plans to open biggest-ever store in Birmingham as part of bid to attract shoppers as sales decline
The new store is set to cover 160,000sq ft and is being built on the site of a former shopping centre in Birmingham
HIGH street giant Primark has reported a "modest decline" in like-for-like sales in the run up to Christmas, but has announced plans to open more stores.
In a push to attract more shoppers, the retailer will be expanding its store space, including what is set to be its largest-ever store in Birmingham.
The store is set to open in April this year.
Associated British Foods, which owns Primark, reported that in the 16 weeks leading up to January 5 sales were up by 4 per cent as the retailer's been opening more stores to push sales.
During September and October it said that like-for-like sales were ahead, but that "reduced footfall affected sales in November".
Primark has 364 stores in total covering 15.1million sq ft, compared to 14.2million sq ft a year ago.
In the last year it's opened four new stores across Europe and the UK, and now has plans to increase its store space with the opening of its largest ever store in April.
The new mega-store will cover 160,000 sq ft and is being built on the site of a former shopping centre in Birmingham city centre.
It'll also replace the existing store on New Street in Birmingham.
Currently, the UK's biggest Primark store is located in Manchester which covers 155,000 sq ft, in a former John Lewis building set over three floors.
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In December, more than 1,000 shoppers queued for the opening of a new Primark store in Belfast city centre after a fire left the original flagship store devastated.
Meanwhile, retail giant Marks and Spencer has announced another round of store closures as it continues to restructure its business.
Debenhams could also be set to close an additional 40 stores, which could put 10,000 jobs at risk.
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