IKEA considers new warehouse in Tromsø

July 21, 2009

Tromsø in the Midnight Sun.

Furniture giant IKEA confirms that it considers the construction of a new warehouse in northern Norway. The city of Tromsø says it is negotiating several site locations with the company.

People in northern Norway has for years been calling on IKEA to establish a warehouse in the region. In 2004 a group of enthusiasts opened a website to help promote the cause. Since then more than 30000 people have signed the website petition on getting the company to the region.

“I hope IKEA has noted the interest,” the man behind the initiative Kim Hauglid says.

The cities of Tromsø and Narvik are believed to be the main competitors for the supermarket establishment. Both city mayors confirm that IKEA has shown interest. According to Tromsø Mayor Arild Hausberg, IKEA showed “great interest” in one of the site locations presented by the city authorities.

A warehouse in Tromsø or Narvik would be the northernmost one for the furniture company. From before the company has one warehouse in the Barents Region, the one in Haparanda on the border between Sweden and Finland. That warehouse already attracts a major number of customers from northern Norway.

Source: The Barents Observer