CANADA – On 21st May IKEA announced plans to open a 397,000 square foot Distribution Center in Mississauga, Ontario, with a projected opening date of October 2015. 

The new unit, which will create approximately 150 new jobs, will fulfill customer orders from the four existing Toronto area stores and e-commerce purchases, as well as support the growth plans for IKEA Canada.

“It is an exciting time for IKEA in Canada. With store sales increasing along with huge growth in e-commerce, there is an opportunity to be more accessible to the many Canadians through a multi-channel environment,” says Stefan Sjöstrand, President, IKEA Canada. “This will be accomplished by examples such as increased service offers, Pick-Up Points, an improved e-commerce interface and optimized distribution services; all resulting in our customers having easier access to our products.”

This latest announcement comes on the heels of last week’s announcements that IKEA Canada has secured locations for their first two Pick-Up-Points in Ontario’s London and Quebec City. The locations, slated to open late 2015, will allow customers who have shopped online or at an IKEA store to pick up their products closer to where they live. Customers will also be able to; buy services to support their purchases, browse www.ikea.ca to make online purchases on provided tablets, as well as having access to 99 products available for immediate takeaway. IKEA currently has 12 stores across Canada and sees a great growth potential in opening Pick-Up-Points, whose format is part of a global test pilot, in markets where there are currently no stores.