IKEA Portugal reinvests more than 65M€ in the development of its business
In 2022, Ikea Portugal had sales of 552 million euros, which translates into a growth of 19.5% compared to 2021. Thus, thanks to these results, the company intends to invest a global amount of 65 million euros in to improve its facilities and logistics to reach customers faster and more efficiently.
This year the company is preparing to open more planning studios, such as those in Almada and in the center of Lisbon, and to continue working on its accessibility strategy. “Another great novelty is the extension and automation of the warehouse in Loures, with a total investment of 50 million euros, which will serve as a logistics center for purchases made online”, revealed Cláudio Valente, Country People and Culture manager at Ikea in Portugal, to the Dinheiro Vivo newspaper.
However, “although we are getting closer and closer to our product availability goals, we have not yet recovered to normal, pre-pandemic levels”, I outline the person in charge. Currently, the main impact of the crisis felt by the company is caused by delays in the departure of maritime containers, mainly from China, and “the already chronic lack of truck drivers” is, mostly, causing constraints on shipments of goods. origin in Europe.
In this way, although the scarcity of raw materials has been one of the “greatest obstacles to the recovery of supply”, it is its price that is impacting the business, “we are not immune to the macroeconomic developments that are affecting companies, retailers and society in general”, stated Cláudio Valente.
Ikea’s Country People and Culture manager also underlined that “some adaptation has been made to the raw materials used, to try to replace those that are in short supply”, allowing the company to absorb the cost increases felt throughout the supply chain and , in this way, to keep prices low and stable, as happened last year when the company managed to reduce the price of some ranges. “We want to continue to do so this new year, although there may be an eventual price increase”, he warned.