Primark's sole outlet in Slovakia is located in the Eurovea shopping centre in Bratislava. (source: SME - Marko Erd)
Primark, the popular fashion retailer founded 56 years ago in Ireland under the name Penneys, marked its Slovak debut in May 2023 with a store in Bratislava’s Eurovea shopping centre, reports the financial daily Hospodárske Noviny. Although it operates only one branch in the country, the brand already has multiple outlets in neighbouring Austria, the Czech Republic and Poland.
Last year was Primark Slovakia’s first full year of trading. According to the business portal FinStat, the company generated €18.8 million in turnover in 2024, representing a 160-percent increase from the previous (partial) year’s figure of just over €7.2 million.
Despite the strong growth, the business is not yet profitable. It posted an overall loss of more than €1 million in 2024. “Rising costs for goods and services, as well as accrual accounting, led to a loss of slightly over €1 million for the period,” explained Maciej Podwojski, Primark’s director for Central and Eastern Europe. The company nevertheless reported a pre-tax profit of €74,000, compared with a pre-tax loss of €71,000 in 2023.
Customers in Slovakia favour basic everyday clothing such as sweaters, jeans, women’s accessories, footwear and licensed collections featuring popular film characters, Podwojski added.
Asked about possible expansion in Slovakia, Podwojski said: “At present, we have no information regarding other locations in Slovakia that we can share.”
Discount fashion battle heats up
Primark’s sole Slovak store occupies three floors in the newer section of Eurovea. According to Eurovea marketing and PR manager Daniela Stričková, there is no space for the retailer to expand within the centre, with only smaller units currently available.
Primark is known internationally for offering affordable products and is often categorised as a discount retailer. In Slovakia, it competes with chains such as Pepco and KiK, which sell clothing, footwear and home accessories and benefit from having an extensive network of stores nationwide. Pepco currently operates 157 outlets in Slovakia, while KiK has 110, with both chains opening several new locations annually.
This autumn, a new competitor will enter the market. German retailer Woolworth plans to open its first Slovak stores in October, with confirmed locations in Trnava, Bratislava, Spišská Nová Ves and Ružomberok. It will also have a branch in the capital, in the Bory Mall shopping centre.
