Primark has announced plans to invest more than €85 million across Spain and Portugal to expand and upgrade its stores across the countries.

The fashion and homewares retailer said the investment programme combines new store openings with a series of refurbishments designed to modernise existing locations and improve the in-store shopping experience.

In Spain, where Primark is celebrating 20 years since opening its first store in Madrid, it will invest €40 million in refurbishing 11 stores and opening a new location in Talavera de la Reina.

The new Talavera de la Reina store will be Primark’s 68th store in Spain and its second site in the Toledo province.

The refurbishment programme will cover stores in cities including Albacete, Pamplona, Santander and Zaragoza.

Primark said the upgrades will include improved layouts, redecoration, modern store designs and the rollout of self-checkout kiosks as part of its wider strategy to enhance customer experience through store technology and operational improvements.

In Portugal, the retailer said it will invest €45 million in opening four new stores in Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia, Castelo Branco and Setúbal, alongside an expansion of its existing store at Forum Coimbra.

The expansion includes Primark’s first street-level store in Portugal, which will open on Rua de Santa Catarina, one of Porto’s main shopping streets.

The investment programme will create more than 300 new retail jobs across the Iberian Peninsula, with roles spanning store management and retail operations, the retailer said.

The announcement follows previous investment programmes in both countries, including a €100 million expansion plan in Spain announced in 2022 and a €40 million investment package for Portugal in 2024.

Last month, Associated British Foods (ABF), the parent company of Primark, announced its intention to separate Primark from the rest of the company following an in-depth review.

ABF said it believes the demerger will have benefits to both companies by allowing each to appoint boards focused on the particular needs of their industries. It will also enhance accountability to shareholders, who may wish to be invested in one side of the business and not the other.

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