Published 10 August 2022 • Inter IKEA newsroom

“This is a historic and special day for us, as we open the very first IKEA store on the South American continent. I’m grateful for all the hard work and effort of all people involved in making this happen. The IKEA vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people and with the opening of the first store, together with the online shopping possibilities with local pick-up points, we’re honouring that vision in Chile,” says Jon Abrahamsson-Ring, CEO of Inter IKEA Group.

“We are very excited to bring the IKEA Concept to South America, starting in Chile. After a long time of preparations, we are now finally able to offer the IKEA Range of well-designed, high-quality home furnishing, produced with care for people and the environment to the many people in the country. Falabella brings a lot of experience in developing and successfully operating retail businesses, and together we are determined to make IKEA beloved and meaningful among the customers and the society,” says Maria Johansson, IKEA Expansion Manager, Inter IKEA Systems B.V.

Expanding into South America is a special event for IKEA, not only for entering a new continent but also with a new franchise, Falabella, a well-established retailer in the Americas.

“We are proud to make IKEA, one of the most admired and successful brands worldwide, available to our customers. Thanks to its unique mix of well-designed, affordable home improvement products, we will continue to develop Falabella's physical and digital ecosystem and help people simplify and enjoy their lives more," says Gaston Bottazzini, CEO of Falabella.

There are currently around 470 IKEA stores in 65 markets, and IKEA is constantly investigating expansion opportunities with the aim to reach more of the many people - and become even more accessible, affordable, and sustainable.

IKEA is committed to making its business climate positive by 2030. To achieve this, circularity is key: the use of renewable and recycled materials, the elimination of waste in operations and within the concept of democratic design, the way products are designed also considers their impact on the planet, both in terms of the materials they are made of and their function. In addition, the concept of circularity is promoted globally by encouraging customers to reuse or recycle IKEA products.

Here are some product examples of the IKEA range, available for Chile on the opening date, that will make it possible for the many Chileans to live a more sustainable life at home.

• HÄLLBAR: Sorting system that makes it easier to segregate waste at home. These bins can be placed inside kitchen modules with rails that allow the container to be moved just like drawers.
• DALSKÄR: This tap includes a water-saving aerator filter. In addition, it has a function that saves hot water and energy every time the knob is lifted. Reduces water consumption by up to 30% and bathroom taps by up to 40%.
• STARKVIND: Air purifier products that easily and effectively improve indoor air quality by filtering out up to 99.5% of dust particles and other allergens.

• Total job creation: 823 new positions linked to the IKEA launch in Chile.
• Relevant milestones:
• May 2018, the arrival of IKEA was announced together with Falabella.
• March 2021, the construction process began,
• August 2022 the first IKEA store in South America opens, together with the e-commerce covering the entire nation. Soon after, IKEA is to open its second store in Chile, IKEA Plaza Oeste
• 2023: IKEA to open in Bogotá, Colombia.
• IKEA restaurant in-store is 1,410 m2, with a sitting capacity of 330 hungry customers.