Ikea moves closer to securing Eco-Valley store

Ikea hopes to be selling flat-pack furniture in the area by 2013. (copyright: Inter IKEA Systems BV)

After plans to build a store in Mougins were shelved in June, the international retailer has been looking for an alternative site in the region.

And it would appear that they may have found an ally in Christian Estrosi. Nice’s mayor and the French Minister for Industry is said to welcome the idea of introducing an Ikea to the area by 2013. “Ikea has a strong desire to install themselves in Nice, and we have a strong desire to welcome them.” he confirmed.

Stefan Vanoverbeke, Director General of Ikea France, has stressed the company’s desire to set up a branch in the regional capital, pointing out that around 35 per cent of their French customers come from the Alpes-Maritimes with most of these currently shopping at their outlet in Toulon.

Mr Vanoverbeke expects their plans to accelerate in coming weeks and hopes that a deal for a new site will be announced in the near future.

It is thought that this deal will see home store located in the forthcoming 10,000 hectare Eco-Valley development. “There are many possibilities for Ikea to set up here,” said Estrosi. “Nothing is stopping them, we just need to find a suitable agreement.”

Ikea has plans to open up 12 new outlets across France by 2020, with the Côte d’Azur market being one of the most important to crack. However, if the project doesn’t get into motion here then it will not be the end of the world, as Isabelle Cremoux-Mirgalet, public relations director for Ikea France, pints out: “If Ikea doesn’t come to Nice then we have the option of looking at Italy also.” However, when pushed on whether she would prefer to see a move to Nice more than Ventimiglia Cremoux-Mirgalet added, “We haven’t discounted Italy, but we would prefer to set up in France.”

TD