Primark to launch home delivery by end of 2027

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 3 Nov, 21:40 · Archive

Primark will begin home deliveries in the UK by December 2027, bringing forward its original plan by about two years.

Primark will begin home deliveries in the UK by the end of 2027, significantly earlier than previously planned. The company brought forward the launch by about two years by acquiring a robot-assisted warehouse in Sheffield from Boohoo Group, which owns Debenhams, Pretty Little Thing and Karen Millen. Primark will take over the warehouse by the middle of 2025.

George Weston, chief executive of Primark's parent Associated British Foods, said the move would reassure potential investors about a planned demerger of the group's divisions. 'Having home delivery on the horizon, I hope will reassure potential investors in Primark that we're creating an omnichannel retailer which is super relevant to all the shoppers in its markets,' he said. ABF believes its separate businesses will perform better as standalone companies than as a combined group.

Primark already operates a click-and-collect service across the UK, which it has rolled out since 2022. The company is preparing its suppliers to provide stock suitable for individual deliveries as well as bulk orders for stores. After launching in the UK, Primark intends to offer home delivery in mainland Europe, though no timeframe has been set.

Primark had previously argued that its low profit margins could not absorb the costs of home delivery. However, Weston said the economics had changed, as delivery and returns charges common across the industry could now cover most logistical costs. He added that research showed the service could attract new customers rather than simply shifting sales from stores to online.

The announcement comes as Primark faces market challenges. The retailer's like-for-like sales fell 2.6 per cent, which the company attributed to a challenging consumer environment. Global sales rose 2 per cent to £9.8 billion in the year to mid-September, but this was driven entirely by new store openings. UK sales, which account for almost 40 per cent of worldwide trade, declined 0.2 per cent in the second half of the year after growing 1.3 per cent in the first half.

How it is being reported

• Primark brings forward home deliveries plan by two years after profits slideRetailer acquires robot-assisted warehouse and intends to have UK service up and running before end of 2027 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. Continue reading...The Guardian · 3 Nov, 16:40
• Primark issues update on prices and date for launch of home deliveriesPrimark is set to invest more than any year for at least the past decade in price cuts to returning the chain to its budget rootsThe Mirror · 3 Nov, 15:20
• Primark confirms plans to launch home delivery - but not until the end of 2027Primark confirmed it will launch home delivery at the end of next year in a bid to reassure potential investors over the spin-off from its owner.This is Money · 3 Nov, 13:18

In this story: Primark · Associated British Foods · George Weston · Boohoo Group · Sheffield · United Kingdom

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