Ikea Belgium already planning beyond the 2 new stores

The opening of two new Ikea stores in 2015, in Mons and Hasselt, will generate 350 direct jobs, it was announced yesterday as the annual figures for the Swedish giant’s Belgian operations were released. It will bring to eight the number of Ikea stores in Belgium - and the chain wants  "at least 10 stores" in Belgium, according to Olivier Baraille, CEO of Ikea Belgium. The Antwerp region is the preferred location for the ninth store, while various locations are being considered for the tenth. Over the past five years, 500 people have been hired by Ikea Belgium, including 200 between September 2012 and August 2013 alone, bringing the total number of employees to 2,900. The six existing Ikea stores generated a record turnover of €707m during the fiscal 2013 - an increase of 4.4 % compared to 2012.