IKEA opens furthest store from Sweden in New Zealand
IKEA opened its first store in New Zealand, entering its 64th market and becoming the furniture retailer’s furthest outpost from its home country of Sweden.
The long-awaited 34,000 square foot store at Auckland’s Sylvia Park shopping center employs 500 people and is IKEA’s 505th store.
IKEA’s expansion into New Zealand was announced in 2019 and comes 50 years after its opening in neighboring Australia.
IKEA currently operates in 64 markets worldwide.
IKEA franchisee Ingka Group said the opening, which was attended by thousands of people, was special given New Zealand’s distance from Sweden.
“This is a real leap of faith, investment and friendship that shows we are not just exporting a store, we are planting long-term roots, creating jobs, learning from local communities and tailoring our offer to Kiwi homes,” retail director Tolga Öncü said in a statement.
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