Penneys breaks silence on Ireland closures as big store changes confirmed
Penneys shoppers have been given fresh clarity on the future of in-store cafes in Ireland, after the retailer confirmed that several Primark cafe concessions are set to close as part of a wider review of space storage.The budget fashion retailer, which trades as Penneys in Ireland and Primark in the UK, currently operates cafes in a small number of its larger stores. These cafes have become popular in recent years, particularly for their themed pop-up experiences inspired by well known films and TV shows like The Simpsons, Stranger Things and Hello Kitty.But as the store continues to grow its clothing, homeware and lifestyle ranges, the retailer has been reassessing how space is used inside some locations. Earlier this week, Primark confirmed that four cafe concessions are earmarked for closure over the next 12 months, with decisions based on the size and location of individual outlets.One of the closures will take place on the island of Ireland, with the cafe at Primark's Royal Avenue store in Belfast among those set to shut. The other locations affected are Glasgow's Braehead Shopping Centre, Birmingham High Street and Edinburgh's Princes Street.The announcement followed social media speculation suggesting cafe staff were facing redundancy, after a video circulated online appearing to show workers saying goodbye to colleagues. However, Primark has said that no staff are currently affected.Now, Penneys has issued a statement to RSVP Live addressing whether additional concession closures are planned for Ireland, while also outlining how stores are expected to change in the coming months.A Penneys spokesperson said: "We know how important our stores are to our customers and we're constantly reviewing them to ensure we provide the best shopping experience. As we've expanded our own product offering, we are adapting our spaces so that each store is best set up to cater to local customer preferences."As part of this, we have been reviewing our in-store concessions and considering how we maximise and best use the space we have in our stores. Over the next 12 months customers will see the closure of some concessions. These decisions are being informed by the size and location of each store."We're committed to working with our valued partners to manage this process with care and transparency, supporting them throughout."Penneys emphasised that the review is being driven by growth rather than cutbacks, with more space being given over to expanding product ranges and new in-store concepts.They added: "As we continue to evolve and expand our product offering, we've seen growth in both new and existing categories and are bringing these to life in new ways, for example through dedicated shop-in-shops, such as Travel shops. Through this review, customers can expect more of the Penneys product they already know and love, set up in new and different ways. This includes our dedicated Performance areas, which have performed very strongly for us since we introduced them last year."The retailer also highlighted several recent and upcoming launches across Ireland, signalling continued investment in stores despite the concession changes.They said: "This week, we launched our latest Performance range in all stores across Ireland. The new 240-piece collection is Penneys most advanced activewear offer to date, combining fresh styles with innovative new fabrics across leggings, tops, hoodies, running layers and more."On Monday, we will launch a new youth-focused label, The Primark Scene, a collection designed for young people who feel caught between kids' ranges that feel too young, and adult fashion that doesn't reflect who they are. Created to better serve teens and young people and meet the needs of a fast-growing youth fashion market, the range offers trend led affordable styles that allow young people to express their individuality through clothes that feel authentic and help them to feel seen."The Primark Scene will be available in dedicated spaces within selected stores, marked by the label's new branding, to make it easier for customers to find the range and shop together."Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
