Hyderabad: Swedish home furnishings major IKEA today opened its first store in India, kicking off its retail journey five years after it received approval to invest in the country’s single-brand retail sector.
The company, which has employed 950 people directly and another 1,500 indirectly at its store, plans to hire 15,000 in the coming years as it expands operations in India.
IKEA Group CEO Jesper Brodin said the opening of the first store in India marks a milestone in the company’s journey here which began over three decades ago through sourcing of products. “We have a long term commitment to India, which is an important market for us,” he added.
The store here is the first of 25 such outlets planned to be set up in India by 2025. In 2013, IKEA received nod from the government to invest Rs 10,500 crore in single-brand retail.
IKEA had originally planned to open its first store in India by 2017, but it was delayed. The opening of its first store here was scheduled for 19 July this year but the company again pushed it back by almost 20 days to 9 August, citing quality commitments.
Out of the total outlay of Rs 10,500 crore, the company has so far invested Rs 4,500 crore in its different projects in India.
It has invested Rs 1,000 crore on the Hyderabad store alone, which would have a range of around 7,500 products. The store is spread over 13 acres of land and has a built up area of 4 lakh sq ft.
The company said it would increase its investments in India as it looks to accelerate expansion in the country faster than it would usually do elsewhere.