Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Home furnishings chain IKEA has announced that it will create over 1,300 new jobs in the UK by the end of 2018.
The news came as the home furnishings retailer celebrated the start of construction of its 21st UK store, in the Devon city of Exeter, last week (see separate story).
Gillian Drakeford, country retail manager for IKEA UK & IE, said: “This year we are celebrating IKEA’s 30th anniversary in the UK, and we are seeing more demand from customers for more stores in areas closer to where they live.
“As we continue to expand, we’re delighted to bring investment to new areas across the country and create new opportunities for local communities.”
IKEA will open three new stores in 2017 and 2018. The locations are: Sheffield, opening in late summer 2017 (with 480 new jobs: 380 in-store, 100 in the call centre); Exeter, opening in early summer 2018 (350 new jobs) and Greenwich, opening in late 2018 (500 new jobs).
These new branches will bring IKEA’s UK store total to 22 by the end of 2018 and staff total to approximately 11,700.
The retailer also has four Order and Collection Points which are smaller format stores.
Last November, IKEA announced its fifth consecutive year of growth in the UK with annual sales worth £1.72 billion and an 8.9% sales uplift.
