50 YEARS IN THE UK

Primark is investing more than £100 million in its UK stores in 2024, as it marks 50 years on the UK high street.

The news includes more than £75 million of new investment in UK retail this year, building on plans it announced back in November 2022.

This year Primark will open brand new stores in Bury St. Edmunds during March, as well as Teesside Park and Glasgow Fort later in the year.

Alongside these, it will open some of its biggest ever store extensions across the country: London’s Westfield Stratford store will almost double in size to more than 81,000sq. ft to become the second largest Primark in the capital. Looking to the north, Metrocentre in Gateshead, Tyneside, will grow to almost 80,000sq. ft of total shopping space once reopened later this year.

New store locations and extensions combined, Primark is set to reach 195 stores and almost eight million sq. ft of selling space by the end of the year.

2024 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

Physical stores are a key focus area for the sixth edition of the RTIH Innovation Awards, which is now open for entries.

The awards, sponsored by CADS, 3D Cloud, Retail Technology Show 2025, and Business France, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

It’s free to enter and you can do so across multiple categories.

Key 2024 dates

Friday, 25th October: Award entry deadline 

Tuesday, 29th October: 2024 shortlist revealed

30th October-6th November: Judging days

Thursday, 21st November: Winners announced at the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony, to be held at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London.