"We have a long-term commitment to Karnataka to create a positive impact on the local economy through our business. With our growing retail presence, IKEA India will be a strong contributor to increasing the overall home furnishing market. It will give opportunities for a growing eco-system for the whole industry, including growing people and skills, we continue to stand by our vision to create a better everyday life for the many people," IKEA India Chief Executive Officer & Chief Sustainability Officer Susanne Pulverer said.
About the IKEA store at Nagasandra, Bengaluru
- The IKEA store in Nagasandra is spread over 12.2 acres, the 4,60,000 sq. ft.
- The IKEA Nagasandra store will feature more than 7,000 home furnishing products along with 65 room sets for ideas and inspirations to live a better life at home, the company said.
- IKEA sources about 25-27% of its products locally with five suppliers in Karnataka and aims to get at least half of its sourcing done locally in the long term.
- IKEA has employed 1,000 co-workers with 72% local co-workers and plans to hire more people from the local neighbourhood. The store would employ 800-1000 direct workers and another 1,500 indirectly.
- The store will also house one of the largest children's play areas, ‘Smaland', along with a 1,000-seater restaurant and a bistro serving a mix of Swedish and Indian delicacies with many vegetarian and vegan food options to choose from, it added.
IKEA said that the store believes in empowering women and has seen women taking up job roles traditionally reserved for men, such as forklift driving, power stacking, assembly, and installation services.
