‘Welcome to our future’: Primark continues self-service checkouts roll-out amidst big UK stores investment

Primark is introducing self-service checkouts across more of its stores after starting the roll-out in 2022.

Initially, they were deployed at stores in Sheffield, Northampton, West Bromwich and Kingston as part of a trial. Milton Keynes and Basingstoke then followed.

And most recently, the technology went live at Stockport.

In a LinkedIn post, Holly Eaton, Manager at Primark, said: “Welcome to our future! As well as served tills we now have new self-serve. We are super excited to allow our customers to flow through store quicker and conveniently. We are proud to also say this means more amazing smiley faces will be on our store floor.”

Referring to Eaton’s post, Richard Feast, Senior Product Manager - In-store Experience (Retail) at Primark, commented: “This is what makes our job incredible! Often you will see people sharing posts of what they have done.”

“But when it’s someone from a store that is sooo excited and bringing something to their customers. Well, it just blows your mind!”

50 years in the UK

Primark recently revealed plans to invest 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.

Kari Rodgers, UK Retail Director at Primark, said: “We’ve changed a lot in the 50 years since we opened the doors on our first store in Great Britain in Derby back in 1974, but at our heart, we are still the same.”

“We’re as committed as ever to offering the very best value on the high street and making great fashion more affordable and accessible for everyone. This latest investment will mean bigger and better stores, hundreds of new jobs across the country and shows our ongoing commitment to the UK high street.”