“IKEA Group wants to expand purchases from Romania as well. We want to grow further together with our suppliers, but we cannot specify how much we will buy from Romania in the coming years as the percentage depends on several factors, such as the economic context or the potential of each supplier,” said the representatives of IKEA Romania.
IKEA, a group with global revenue of almost EUR30 billion, buys furniture for its stores from 52 states, including Romania. The Swedish group started collaboration with Romanian plants before the Revolution and at present has 40 Romanian suppliers both for furniture and various home décor items.
IKEA bought Romanian furniture long before it opened a store in Bucharest, in 2007, and at present its purchases can be put at several hundred million euros, according to ZF estimates. There is no public information about the value of purchases as the company is not willing to disclose it.
“Last year, IKEA Group set as a strategic target doubling its sales to EUR50 billion against 2012 by 2020. To achieve this and to support growth, a strategic and long-term partnership with domestic suppliers is needed among others. Also, the group needs to expand its product range through new partnerships with new suppliers,” IKEA representatives also said.
IKEA has its own furniture production unit, IKEA Industry, but also buys products from over 1,000 suppliers of 52 states.
From Romania, IKEA is said to buy products from Taparo, Plimob, Sortilemn, Ecolor, Cesiro, according to market information or company data. The largest supplier is said to be Aramis Invest of Baia Mare, but the information was not confirmed by the company.
Around 10% of items sold in the store of Baneasa come from Romanian suppliers and the best-selling “made in Romania” products are Dinera ones.
By value, products manufactured in Romania make 5% of the around EUR100 million sales of furniture and home décor items by IKEA.
(English version by Catalina Apostoiu)