Jul 8, 2019

Founder of UK budget fashion behemoth Primark dies

Arthur Ryan, the founder of the UK high street retailer Primark, has died at the age of 83 following a short illness, the company announced on Monday. Ryan opened the first Primark store in Dublin in 1969, where it is known as Penneys, with an idea to provide budget fashion for young people. George Weston, chief executive of Primark's parent company Associated British Foods who had known Ryan since he was eight years old, said that Ryan was "Hugely clear on what Primark was and what was important to it". As a budget brand, Primark has largely weathered the storm, reporting a 4.4 per cent increase in like-for-like sales in the six months to March. Despite overseeing the growth of Primark into an international brand, Ryan, who lived in Dublin, was a reclusive figure and had not given an interview since the 1970s.

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