The IKEA building in Sylvia Park under construction in November 2024. Photo: Supplied
Swedish furniture giant IKEA will this week reveal the opening day for its first New Zealand store in Auckland.
The retailer is expected to announce the date on Thursday.
In July, Ikea said it was on track to open at Sylvia Park later this year and had employed 85 of the 500 staff it needed.
Its imminent arrival coincided with high unemployment, and its senior management roles attracted about 800 applicants earlier this year.
According to Auckland Council's consent conditions, the opening date must not be on a Friday or near public holidays, such as the upcoming Labour Weekend.
The big box retailer has to provide the council with a plan that detailed how it would manage the anticipated crowds expected to drive there in the three months following the opening.
Its New Zealand fulfilment manager, Jan Vanderstappen, said although the store was in Auckland, online shopping would be available with a network of 29 pick-up points across the country, from Kaitaia to Invercargill.
She said IKEA would deliver to homes in Auckland, in electric vans and trucks - NZ Post would deliver smaller accessories and furnishings dispatched as parcels, with larger flat-packs and furniture transported on Mainfreight trucks.
"We're confident we will meet the expectations of our customers no matter where they live, or how they would like to shop with us."
Construction began on the 34,000 square metre store in 2023 and the iconic blue building was taking shape at Sylvia Park.
The ground level would be a carpark, with the store spread across two floors, including its Swedish restaurant that woulf sell meatballs and hotdogs. The retailer was still recruiting for some roles.
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