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SCMP Reporter

IKEA, the Swedish home furnisher, is embarking on a multi-million-dollar expansion programme in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

 An investment of $121 million will lead to an expansion of the chain's retail and distribution network in the territory this year. Part of the expenditure involves moving its Sha Tin outlet from Wo Che Estate to Grand Central Plaza.

  Due to open in November, the new store will be more than five times bigger, making it the largest IKEA outlet in the territory.

  Another $20 million will be involved in creating 50 per cent more space at IKEA's Causeway Bay outlet in the Park Lane Hotel basement. The renovations should be completed by the end of the month.

 To service the rapid expansion, IKEA's warehousing operations are also scheduled to move from Sha Tin to new 200,000-square-feet premises in Sheung Shui by the end of the year.

  'This warehouse will be one of Hong Kong's largest,' said managing director Caroline Mak. 'We are very excited to be entering this new phase of our development.'   With two other stores in Tsuen Wan Plaza and Mongkok's Pioneer Centre, as well as Causeway Bay and Sha Tin, IKEA has been open in Hong Kong for 20 years.

  'During this time, we have succeeded in capturing a significant share of the home furnishings market,' she said.

  'Our expansion project continues to build on the success we have experienced from placing IKEA stores in convenient shopping areas as well as nearby residential areas.'   IKEA is also mounting a major offensive on the Taiwan market. Having opened its first shop on the island two years ago, the chain is now investing $149 million in a 150,000-sq-ft outlet due to open next year in the Asia World Store.

  'This will become Asia's largest furniture store,' Ms Mak said.

  In Hong Kong, she said IKEA's success had been built not only on value-for-money quality furnishings 'all under one roof' but on efforts to 'make shopping more convenient for the hectic lifestyle'.

  For the first time, the company is publishing its product catalogue in Chinese this year.



IKEA has big plans for Taiwan and Hong Kong