Will Nice ever be able to say it has an Ikea?

Inter IKEA Systems BV

Regardless of interests shown by city officials, the pursuit of the furniture retailer may be unsuccessful, despite fending off potential competitors like nearby Ventimiglia.

Having anticipated the opening of a retail branch in southern France for 25 years now. Mikael Ohlsson, President of the Swedish conglomerate, has been delighted to be invited to be part of the Eco-valley project proposed by Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, after earlier plans for a store in neighbouring Mougins were rejected.

Stefan Vanoverbeke, the general director of Ikea France has even encouraged the group to set up a store in Nice after a meeting he had with, Estrosi, a trusted ally.

However, plans to get this idea rolling have been halted for now due to successive openings of outlets in Vitrolles in 1985, in Toulon-la Valette du Var in 2005, in Marseille –La Valentine in 2006 and in Avignon-Vedene in August last year.

Isabelle Cremoux-Mirgalet, Public Relations Director for Ikea France, wrote that the company is not quite ready to propose to eager residents of Alpes-Maritimes promise of a store it might never open.

Although the arrival of the blue and yellow façade has not been confirmed, it underlined the possibility of a favourable decision being taken during future deliberations with the city council and other regional partners.

AA