IKEA Unveils Straight-Path Superstore to End Shopper Mazes

IKEA Unveils Straight-Path Superstore to End Shopper Mazes

(IN BRIEF) IKEA is planning a groundbreaking two-kilometer-long linear store to replace its signature maze-like layout, prompted by customer complaints about getting lost and over-reliance on GPS navigation. Led by Tolga Öncü, Ingka Retail Manager, the single-floor design allows shoppers to see the exit from the entrance, with a travelator to ease movement and a central food court featuring a “fast lane” option. Despite the shift, the windowless IKEA experience remains intact. The change follows an incident where a shopper was found trapped post-closing in a toy snake basket, spurring executives to rethink layouts after weeks of discussion. Future stores may include whimsical designs like a giant meatball.

(PRESS RELEASE) LEIDEN, 1-Apr-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — IKEA, the Swedish home furnishings giant, is developing an innovative linear store design that breaks away from its traditional winding, maze-like format. This new location will extend nearly two kilometers in length to house all essential showrooms and storage areas.

The shift comes as a direct reaction to growing customer frustration over getting disoriented within IKEA’s famously circuitous stores, which have historically guided shoppers along a single, twisting path.

Tolga Öncü, Ingka Retail Manager (COO) at IKEA Retail (Ingka Group), explained, “We’ve observed an uptick in customers relying on phone GPS to navigate our stores. Naturally, this raised red flags for us since it meant they were staring at screens instead of exploring our offerings. Our answer is a straightforward store layout where losing your way becomes a thing of the past.”

This linear design features a single-level structure, where shoppers enter at one end and can instantly spot the exit two kilometers ahead along a continuous aisle. To address focus-group concerns about lengthy walks, a hop-on, hop-off travelator will ferry customers through the space. The iconic IKEA food court will sit at the midpoint, equipped with a “fast lane” travelator for those eager to dine without traversing the entire store.

While adopting this streamlined layout, the store will retain IKEA’s signature windowless aesthetic. “We’re not looking to overhaul everything,” Öncü noted. “The goal is to preserve that unmistakable IKEA feel.”

IKEA’s labyrinthine stores have long been a hallmark of its brand, with their psychological impact on shoppers considered a key driver of its worldwide triumph. However, after prolonged internal debates, the decision to trial a new approach was cemented when security at an unnamed IKEA location discovered a customer stranded hours after closing. The bewildered individual recounted hiding in a basket of plush toy snakes, unable to escape.

Looking ahead, IKEA is exploring other creative store concepts, including one modeled after a massive meatball, for future locations.

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.

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SOURCE: Ingka Holding B.V