One of the most celebrated chains, IKEA, opened its 4th store in the country with huge fanfare and hype. The store is said to be the biggest in the country with a carpet area of 4,60,000 sq ft. The store was inaugurated by CM Basavaraj Bommai and top executives from IKEA. The chain plans to invest nearly Rs 3000 crore in the state and employ 10,000 people by 2030.
CM Basavaraj Bommai
Image – Hindustan Times
Large crowds began to throng the store to get the first look on Wednesday. Several people had taken a day off from their work to check out the store.
Image Source: India Today
The store is located in Nagasandra which is right next to the metro station in the north of Bengaluru. Additionally, IKEA plans to launch its first city-centre store in Bengaluru next year. Before launching the store, IKEA was catering for the citizens through online services and has over 8 lakh customers.
Ahead of the launch, top executives of the chain arrived in Bengaluru, including former IKEA India CEO Peter Betzel.
IKEA stated that the Bengaluru store is more spacious and different from the ones in Hyderabad and Mumbai. The store is said to have balcony designs apart from its usual home décor and furnishing items. IKEA boasts of building the largest children’s play area ‘Smaland’ in the new store.
The IKEA store is spread over 12.2 acres and has a 1,000-seater restaurant serving both Swedish and Indian food. Vinaya Rai, People and Culture Manager of IKEA Nagasandra, said, “Seventy per cent of the workforce in the store are local and we aim to recruit many more. We are also training and developing our co-workers to make them ready to welcome our customers. Sixty per cent of our employees and full-time and the rest are part-timers.”
CEO Suzzanne Pulverer told reporters that the store is located right next to a metro station so that the store is more accessible. In a collaboration with the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL), a foot overbridge would be constructed by the end of the year to connect the store and the Nagasandra Metro Station.
India CEO Susanne Pulverer
Image Source: The Hindu
While speaking with the press CEO Pulverer told, “There are three things that drive us. We will be focusing on sustainability, accessibility and affordability.”
She further told the press, “While we are an omnichannel retailer, the IKEA stores are iconic and will remain important places where our customers meet our home furnishing offerings, get inspired, and find relevant products best suited for their home. We are happy to bring our passion and knowledge for home furnishing to the people of Karnataka to contribute to better lives at home.”
References: MoneyControl, The Hindu and the News Minute.
Featured Image Source: The Indian Express
