IKEA, the renowned Swedish multinational furniture and home decoration company, has chosen our Metropolitan Area of the Aburrá Valley to continue its expansion in South America.
With the opening of its third shop in the country, located in Envigado, the company is committed to contributing to the economic and social growth of the region, generating employment and boosting the local economy.
The new shop in Viva Envigado will generate approximately 300 jobs, which will mainly benefit residents of Medellín, Envigado and nearby municipalities. This effort is part of a broader hiring plan, which is expected to create around 1,100 jobs with the opening of shops in Bogotá, Cali and Medellín, and the operation of the company’s e-commerce platform in Colombia.
Cristina Zambrano, executive director of the Medellín Cooperation and Investment Agency (ACI), highlighted the impact of IKEA’s arrival in the region: ‘The Cooperation and Investment Agency of Medellín and the Metropolitan Area is proud of the opening of IKEA in Viva Envigado. This iconic global company is coming to our region not only to boost the economy, but also to generate quality jobs and offer design products at affordable prices for all households. With this third shop in Colombia, IKEA reaffirms its commitment to our territory, and from the ACI Medellin we will support them to continue trusting in our company.
IKEA is characterised by its strong commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Currently, more than 45% of its team in Colombia is made up of women, 17% of its team is made up of people over 50 years old, and close to 50% of its team is made up of young people under 30 years old.
The company offers job opportunities that cover a wide range of profiles and experience levels, allowing both students and seniors, and people with or without retail experience, to develop a professional career.
With more than 400 shops worldwide, the Swedish company has set an ambitious goal of becoming an environmentally positive company by 2030, focusing on circularity through the use of renewable and recycled materials, elimination of waste and an innovative approach to product design.
The company’s expansion project in South America includes an investment of approximately USD $600 million, which will allow the opening of nine shops within 10 years, as well as the development of e-commerce channels in each country.
In Colombia, IKEA opened its first shop at Mallplaza NQS in Bogota in September 2023 and its second at Mallplaza Cali in May 2024. With the arrival of IKEA in Envigado, the company continues its commitment to the country, contributing not only to the dynamisation of the economy, but also to the creation of jobs and the promotion of inclusion and labour diversity.