Primark is accelerating its US rollout with two more mall locations. The British value fashion group will open its seventh Texas store at Willowbrook Mall in Houston and its first Indiana store at Castleton Square Mall in Indianapolis, both scheduled for July and each carrying close to 30,000 sq ft of selling space. Together they take Primark’s US estate to 44 stores, following another Texas opening in Arlington the previous week.
The expansion is timed ahead of the back-to-school and summer vacation shopping seasons. Primark is leading with value essentials: women’s jeans from $12, kids’ sweatshirts from $8 and men’s T-shirts from $5, with the Texas stores also carrying local team merchandise for the Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets. “We know that the quality fashion and compelling prices Primark offers matter more than ever to consumers today,” said Kevin Tulip, president of Primark US. A New York City flagship opened in May as the retailer’s eleventh store in the state, adding to a footprint that already includes Illinois, Florida and Tennessee. The expansion continues through significant boardroom change: Eoin Tonge became chief executive in March after a year as interim, Filip Ekvall was appointed to the newly created chief commercial officer role, and Lucy Slinger joined as chief financial officer from Ingka Group, the IKEA franchisee. In April, parent company ABF confirmed plans to demerge Primark from sister business FoodCo by the end of 2027.
Why it matters for the pet industry
Pet apparel, bandanas and soft carriers are produced in the same knitwear and woven-goods factories that supply fast fashion, and Primark’s opening price architecture becomes the reference point US shoppers carry into the pet aisle. A $5 T-shirt makes a $22 dog hoodie a considered purchase rather than an impulse one, which pushes pet apparel toward either genuine performance features or licensed novelty.
The licensed sports merchandise angle is the concrete opportunity. Team-branded pet jerseys and collars sit in the same license portfolios Primark is buying into, and 44 high-traffic mall doors also restore footfall to centers where pet specialty chains hold neighboring leases.
What to watch
- Whether Primark adds pet accessories or licensed pet merchandise to its US home and gifting assortment.
- Completion of the ABF demerger by end-2027 and any resulting shift in capital allocation.
- US mall footfall data in the Texas and Indiana centers hosting adjacent pet specialty tenants.
FAQ
What is Primark’s US store count after the expansion?
Primark’s US estate now totals 44 stores after opening its seventh Texas location in Houston and first Indiana store in Indianapolis, both scheduled for July with close to 30,000 square feet each. The expansion follows another Texas opening in Arlington and a New York City flagship that became its eleventh store in that state.
How does Primark’s pricing affect pet apparel?
Pet apparel, bandanas and soft carriers come from the same knitwear and woven-goods factories that supply fast fashion, so Primark’s opening prices set a reference for the pet aisle. A $5 T-shirt makes a $22 dog hoodie a considered purchase, pushing pet apparel toward performance features or licensed novelty.
Will Primark add licensed pet merchandise?
Primark’s licensed sports merchandise, including Dallas Cowboys, Spurs and Rockets team gear, sits in the same license portfolios as pet jerseys and collars, a concrete opportunity for the chain. Its 44 high-traffic mall doors also restore footfall to centers where neighboring pet specialty chains hold leases.
Source intelligence adapted for the GlobalPetIndex pet-industry audience. Original publication: external brief.
