IKEA will open its first store in New Zealand in December, offering its furniture in Kit and Swedish meatballs in the largest city, Auckland, about 50 years after his arrival in neighboring Australia.
The 34,000 square meter store will open at the Sylvia Park shopping center on December 4, as INGKA Group, the largest Ikea franchise. It is estimated that 500 jobs will be created.
“The benefits are huge,” said Prime Minister Christopher Luxon after visiting the place. “More jobs, economic growth, and all that benefits New Zealand.”
The South Pacific Nation is part of Ingka’s global expansion strategy that will see more than 5,000 million euros, US $ 5.8 billion, invested in new locations and improvements by 2027. Ikea, the world’s largest furniture retailer, opened its first store in Sweden in 1958 and is currently active in 63 markets.
While for now there will be only one store in New Zealand, Ingka said he will launch 29 “Collection points” throughout the country with home delivery, which will make more than 7,500 articles from the IKEA range available throughout the country.
The new Ikea store will have a Swedish restaurant and A bistró that will serve hot meatballs and puppies along with local dishes, he said.
