NI firm completes over €5 million worth of Primark contracts in mainland Europe and looks forward to 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) January 21, 2010 -- The Bellaghy-based company, a specialist in fast-track electrical fit-outs for the retail sector, completed three European Primark projects last year with a total contract value in excess of €5 million.

With Primark’s parent company ABF (Associated British Foods) recently reporting a marked increase in revenue in the first quarter of its financial year and with same store Primark sales on an upward trajectory, Premier is quietly confident that it is well-positioned to compete for further European contracts from the retail giant in 2010.

The projects – which involved the full electrical fit-outs of all lighting and power systems, fire alarms, anti-intruder devices and CCTV as well as store-specific features at each of the three locations – typically involved mobile teams of about 20-30 Premier employees working to tight turnaround times.

The Mid-Ulster based company launched into the German market last spring with a fit out to a 60,000 sq ft sales space in a Primark store in Bremen, where it worked with Ballymena-based contractor, Patton Fit Out.

Work then commenced on the Frankfurt NordWestZentrum Shopping Centre outlet in August, and entailed a three week strip out of previous big brand tenant, SinnLeffers, and the fit-out of a 53,000 sales space in an ultra-tight timeframe of 9 weeks.

Company Manager, Tony Shivers, suggested that after the Bremen project, the Premier team was much better equipped to win German contracts in the future:

“Bremen was a new experience for us, and the amount of pre-contract work put in was extensive, especially to familiarise ourselves with national DIN standards. However, it was a great learning experience for the team and undoubtedly proved to be a major benefit when we came to approach the Frankfurt project.”

The company’s third 2009 European project in Liege saw it work in partnership with Dutch company Akor to turn around a fit-out for a store at the Media Shopping Centre in another 9 weeks timeframe, and just in time for pre-Christmas store opening on 1st December.


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Notes to editors:
Premier Electrics was established in 1993 and has built up a reputation for efficiency and excellence thanks to significant and ongoing projects with key retailers such as M&S, Argos, Brown Thomas, Debenhams, Arcadia Group, Virgin Group, Primark and ASDA. http://www.premierelectrics.com/

Primark’s parent company ABF (Associated British Foods) recently reported a 17% increase in revenue in the first quarter of its financial year.
Source: Financial Times: 15.01.2010.

Primark sales grew by 9% in the 6 months to 30 Sept 2009.
Source: Hargreaves & Lansdown: www.h-l.co.uk.

Premier’s breakthrough with Primark came initially with its work at Primark’s flagship Oxford Street store in central London, which opened in 2007. In 2008, the company was responsible for the complete electrical re-fit of stores across GB at locations including Bolton, Hounslow and High Wycombe.

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