For Immediate Release – September 10, 2008
Contact: Joseph Roth, U.S. Public Affairs
(610) 834-0180, x. 6500

SWEDISH HOME FURNISHINGS RETAILER IKEA ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR A DENVER-AREA STORE IN CENTENNIAL, COLORADO – THE 1ST IN STATE

IKEA Centennial would extend western presence into Rocky Mountain Region

CONSHOHOCKEN, PA – IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, today announced it is submitting plans to the City of Centennial, Colorado for a store that would increase the Swedish retailer’s presence in the western United States. Submitting an application to the City marks the beginning of the governmental approval process. A store opening date has not yet been determined. Until IKEA Centennial opens, customers can shop nearby IKEA stores in Draper, UT; Tempe, AZ; or online at http://www.ikea-usa.com/.

Located 15 miles south of Downtown Denver, the 400,000-square-foot proposed IKEA Centennial, with 1,700 parking spaces, would be built on 13.5 acres along the western side of Interstate-25 in the Park Meadows area, accessible from connections to the Dry Creek Road or County Line Road exits. Store plans reflect the same unique architectural design for which IKEA stores are known worldwide.

“We are thrilled to submit plans for IKEA Centennial where we can build upon our western U.S. presence,” said Doug Greenholz, U.S. real estate manager for IKEA. “This proposed IKEA store would bring existing Colorado customers a store of their own and would introduce other Coloradans to the unique IKEA product selection and family-friendly shopping experience.”

IKEA Centennial would feature nearly 10,000 exclusively designed items, 50 inspirational room-settings, three model home interiors, a supervised children’s play area, and a 350-seat restaurant serving Swedish specialties such as meatballs with lingonberries and salmon plates, as well as American dishes. Other family-friendly features would include a ‘Children’s IKEA’ area in the showroom, baby-care rooms, preferred parking and play areas throughout the store.

In addition to 500 jobs that are expected to be created during the construction phase, approximately 400 coworkers would join the IKEA family when the new store opens. IKEA Centennial would provide significant annual sales and property tax revenue for local governments and schools. “We also would look forward to being a partner with the local community,” added Greenholz.

There are more than 280 IKEA stores in 36 countries, including 35 in the U.S., where other new stores are being planned in: Charlotte, NC; Somerville, MA; and Tampa, FL. IKEA believes home is the most important place in the world and, since its 1943 founding in Sweden, has offered a wide range of home furnishings and accessories of good design and function, at low prices so the majority of the people can afford them. IKEA has been ranked in FORTUNE’s annual “100 Best Companies to Work For” list (three years in a row), Working Mother magazine’s annual list of “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers” (four years in a row) and Training magazine’s annual “Top 100” ranking of companies that excel at human capital development (five years in a row).

IKEA incorporates environmentally and socially responsible efforts into day-to-day business, and continually supports initiatives that benefit causes such as children and the environment. For information about IKEA, please go to http://www.ikea-usa.com/.