Ingka Group Expands Globally with New IKEA Store Openings in Switzerland and China

This year Ingka Group, the largest IKEA retailer, will open customer meeting points in different sizes and formats in more than 50 new locations around the world.  

“We are focusing our expansion on omnichannel growth — increasingly integrating our digital and physical channels so that they interact and strengthen each other, as well as offering a convenient and inspiring experience wherever, whenever, and however our customers around the world want to meet us”, says Tolga Öncu, Ingka Retail Manager. 

The new Livat meeting place opening in Xi’an today, is owned by Ingka Centres and consists of nearly 400 different shops and stores that bring new retail brands, food experiences and entertainment venues to the region. The new IKEA Xi’an Yanta is a two-floor store integrated in the meeting place and together they will become an inspirational destination for life at home and offer endless opportunities for people to create a better everyday life with everything they need under one roof.   

“China is one of the most important strategic markets for Ingka Group where we see many opportunities to further growth”, says Cindy Andersen, Managing Director of Ingka Centres. 

Since entering the Chinese market in 1998, IKEA China has served millions of customers. Ingka now operates 35 IKEA stores, two IKEA shops and 9 Livat meeting places in the country. Beside Xi’an, Ingka will open yet another Livat meeting place with 350 shops and an IKEA store in Shanghai later this year. Also, the first IKEA plan and order point in China will open to customers in Shenzhen during summer. 

Yesterday, Ingka also opened a new IKEA store outside the city of Riddes, in the Swiss mountain region. It’s the tenth IKEA store in Switzerland, where IKEA has furnished people’s homes for more than fifty years.  

IKEA Riddes will be the most modern IKEA store in Switzerland and a leading example of how innovation, environmentally friendly design and sustainability can work together. The store’s concept consists of a zero-waste approach, lots of green space outside the building and on the roof, and it will run on 100% renewable energy, powered by solar panels.  

About Ingka Group

With IKEA retail operations on 31 markets, Ingka Group is the largest IKEA retailer and represents about 90% of IKEA retail sales. It is a strategic partner to develop and innovate the IKEA business and help define common IKEA strategies. Ingka Group owns and operates IKEA sales channels under franchise agreements with Inter IKEA Systems B.V. It has three business areas: IKEA Retail, Ingka Investments and Ingka Centres. Read more on www.Ingka.com.