The Ikea main owner Ingka Group wants to spend 3 billion euros on new furniture centers and the conversion of existing branches by the end of 2023 so that they can also be used as distribution centers for online trade, said Ingka manager Tolga Oncu in an interview published on Monday the Reuters news agency. “We’re talking about transforming our square meters,” he emphasized. “Why should we build warehouses for our online business when we can ship the goods from our branches?” In recent years, the furniture retailer has responded to the challenges of online shopping with smaller branches, a modernized website, an app and digital services.
Ikea had recorded record sales during the corona pandemic – consumers spent more time in their homes and equipped them with new furniture. Despite the war in Ukraine and high inflation, investments are now being made in many countries, Oncu said. He predicted that even if consumers’ mood to buy deteriorates, demand for goods with a good price-performance ratio will increase.
Source: Nachrichten
