IKEA Canada unveils major expansion plans for seamless customer experience

Swedish furniture giant IKEA through its subsidiary IKEA Canada has announced a CAD 400 million investment to ramp up its fulfillment capacities in the Greater Vancouver and Toronto Areas.

The plan underscores IKEA’s commitment to enhancing the Canadian customer shopping experience, in line with their evolving purchasing habits, and its promise to support a better life at home for all Canadians. The brand’s focus remains centered on business acceleration that promises a seamless and memorable customer journey across all interaction points.

In Greater Vancouver, IKEA Richmond is set to benefit from the brand’s ambitious expansion drive. Upon approval and subsequent completion of the project, the revamped IKEA Richmond outlet is set to offer improved click and collect and locker pickup services.

Furthermore, the expansion will support truck, parcel, and collection point delivery services throughout the Greater Vancouver market. Developed in line with IKEA’s climate-positive initiatives, the new facility aims to reduce costs while ensuring short and stable lead times, thus supporting market growth.

Ontario’s Greater Toronto Area (GTA) will see the construction of a new IKEA Customer Distribution Centre in Hamilton, projected for completion in 2025. Additionally, IKEA Etobicoke and IKEA Vaughan are earmarked for expansion by 2025, to bolster store fulfillment capabilities. These developments are aimed at keeping high-demand products readily available and curtailing delivery times, paving the way for future growth in the GTA market.

IKEA Canada’s omnichannel transformation strategy encompasses novel shopping methods, store experience enhancements, robust digital capabilities and services, as well as optimized fulfillment networks. This strategy ensures an integrated and seamless customer experience irrespective of when, where, or how customers choose to shop. Known globally for their large-format stores featuring home furnishing solutions, IKEA has evolved to offer digital shopping options via IKEA.ca and the IKEA app.

To further its expansion, IKEA Canada continues to add to its network of customer interaction points, now featuring Plan and Order points in Boisbriand and Brossard, QC, as well as Kitchener, ON. Other milestones include the first city-center store in downtown Toronto, and the eagerly-awaited small-format store at Scarborough Town Centre.

Geoffrey Macdonald — IKEA Canada CFO said: “At IKEA, we are always looking for ways to optimize our operations to better meet our customers’ need for convenience and speed, while continuing to help fulfill their aspirations for a better life at home.

“We are focused on further transforming and developing our fulfilment networks in key markets across the country to ensure that our products are available to customers whenever, wherever, and however they choose to shop with us.”