How a £50k acorn became a multimillion-euro business

Primark is credited with driving growth for its parent company, ABF

Primark, or Penneys as it is known in Ireland, was set up by Arthur Ryan in 1969. Now in its 50th year of existence, Primark has more than 350 stores in 11 countries.

Ryan had previously worked for London fashion wholesaler Carr & McDonald. He returned to Ireland to work for Dunnes Stores in Cornelscourt in south Dublin. There, he was poached by Galen Weston, a Canadian retail billionaire.

Ryan persuaded Weston that ...