Primark among winners at World Retail Awards

Budget fashion chain Primark walked away with two awards at this year’s World Retail Awards in Rome, winning the retail transformation and reinvention award, as well as its chief executive Paul Marchant being named outstanding leader of the year.

The World Retail Awards stated that Primark were singled out for both awards for the “consistent success” of the business, highlighting its international expansion, and delivering spectacular financial metrics, whilst overcoming any challenges in each market they have entered.

Marks and Spencer’s “For Every Milestone” advertising campaign was voted the best campaign of the year, commended for its well-targeted approach and the appeal of the humorous, heart touching stories, while Missguided founder Nitin Passi won young entrepreneur of the year. Passi impressed the judges with her “visionary approach” to building an international company.

Other winner’s included Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba being crowned retailer of the year, praised for the delivering “constant innovation" across all of its operations, as well as how it has helped changed the face of consumer behaviour in China.

China’s JD.com was voted e-commerce retailer of the year while London toy shop Hamley’s won store design of the year for its new store, Hamley’s World in Moscow.

Ian McGarrigle, chairman of the World Retail Congress, said: “This has been another outstanding year with exceptional standards set by the finalists in all the categories. We are delighted at the number of entrances in each category, and the ultimate winners are all fantastic examples of the diversity, and constantly evolving nature, of retailing.”