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Published 28 July 2018 • Inter IKEA newsroom

Thanks for the first 75 wonderful years!

On the 28th of July 1943 Ingvar Kamprad founded IKEA in the outskirts of Älmhult. The 75 year young brand is now celebrating, together with our customers and co-workers, 75 years of innovation and entrepreneurship and the glorious future to come.

What started as a small post order business, operated by a teenager on a bike, has certainly grown over the past 75 years. Today the IKEA brand is represented on 49 markets and close to a billion people visit the IKEA stores annually, with more than 2.5 billion visitors online. 195.000 IKEA co-workers all over the world contribute every day to creating a better everyday life for the many people.

The success of IKEA would never have been possible without its customers and co-workers. As a gratitude to our customers, starting in August, some of the most loved and appreciated IKEA products from the past will be re-introduced in a collection called GRATULERA. IKEA would like to thank every single customer for the first 75 years, and is now looking forward to the next exciting 75 years.

Some milestones along the IKEA journey:

1943: Ingvar Kamprad registers his company, IKEA. The I stands for Ingvar, K for Kamprad, E for Elmtaryd (the name of the family farm) and A for Agunnaryd (the name of the parish).

1948: Stylish, modern furniture is introduced into the IKEA product range.

1951: The first IKEA catalogue is distributed free of charge - just like today.

1956: Self-assembly furniture is now a part of the IKEA Concept. Flat packages mean reduced transport and damage costs. And that means lower prices for IKEA customers.

1958: The first IKEA store opens in Älmhult, Sweden.

1960: IKEA Älmhult introduces the first IKEA Restaurant & Café. As a result, visitors stay in the store longer.

1963: The first IKEA store outside Sweden opens, in Norway.

1973: The first IKEA store outside Scandinavia opens in Spreitenbach, Switzerland.

Today: 419 stores in 49 countries and close to 200 000 IKEA co-workers.

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About IKEA

IKEA offers well-designed, functional and affordable, high-quality home furnishing, produced with care for people and the environment. There are several companies with different owners, working under the IKEA Brand, all sharing the same vision: to create a better everyday life for the many people. IKEA was founded in Sweden in 1943.

About the IKEA franchise system

The IKEA retail business is operated through a franchise system with franchisees that are authorised to market and sell the IKEA product range within specified geographical territories. Inter IKEA Systems B.V. is the owner of the IKEA Concept and worldwide IKEA franchisor, who also assigns different IKEA companies to develop the product range, supply products and deliver communication solutions. Today, 12 different groups of companies have the right to own and operate IKEA sales channels under franchise agreements with Inter IKEA Systems B.V.

About Inter IKEA Group

Inter IKEA Group includes Inter IKEA Systems B.V., IKEA of Sweden AB, IKEA Supply AG and IKEA Industry AB related businesses. Inter IKEA Holding B.V. is the holding company for the Inter IKEA Group.

Contacts

IKEA Franchising

If you want to know more about the IKEA Brand, our people and sustainability agenda, our culture and values, the IKEA expansion and franchise system, please contact us here:

Netherlands

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+31621240618