• Stores open in New Jersey and Pennsylvania
  • Five more stores planned
  • Made US debut in Boston last September

Primark has opened two more stores in the US with another five shops in the pipeline as it continues its expansion in the country.

The Associated British Foods-owned retailer has this week launched new stores in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, bringing its total number of US stores to five.

Primark opened its first US shop in Boston last September, followed by a second store in Pennsylvania.

The move brought it head to head with stiff local competition including TK Maxx and Forever 21, as well as overseas brands such as Zara and H&M, which both have a strong presence in the country.

Primark chief executive Paul Marchant said: “We are pleased to open our fourth and fifth stores in the US as we continue to receive extremely positive customer feedback during this time of growth in the Northeast.”

Five more stores are due to open shortly in Burlington and Braintree, both in Massachusetts, in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and in Staten Island and Brooklyn, New York.

Earlier this month Primark posted a 7% rise in global third-quarter sales, but said like-for-likes were hit by “unpredictable” weather.