Ikea has revealed plans to open 50 stores worldwide.
The retailer is opening a record number of stores this year as demand has risen over the pandemic and people were decorating their homes over lockdown.
In the year to August, sales fell 4% but it was a better than expected result during the difficult trading environment.
Speaking on the Today programme, boss of Ingka Group, a company that operates many Ikea stores, said: “We were expecting a gradual ramp-up in our business [when our stores began to reopen around the world], but we like many others were absolutely wrong.”
“From day one of opening we have had a tremendous interest in coming back to our stores,” added Jesper Brodin.
The group already has 445 stores across the world. A new store will be located in Hammersmith, London next spring.
During lockdowns, 75% of all stores worldwide were closed for weeks, however, online sales surged by 60%.