IKEA opens first new small-format store in Harlow as part of UK expansion
The store features a compact layout with curated roomsets, seasonal collections and planning services for kitchens and bedroom storage
IKEA has opened a new small-format store in Harlow, Essex, the first of three such sites due this year, just over 100 days after acquiring the lease.
The new store, which opened on 24 July, is located in a retail park and designed to offer a quicker and more accessible shopping experience. Sites in Norwich and Chester are expected to follow later in 2025.
The opening was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Harlow MP Chris Vince, Harlow Council leader Dan Swords, and the store’s 40 employees.
The store features a compact layout with curated roomsets, seasonal collections and planning services for kitchens and bedroom storage.
Customers can purchase smaller furniture and home accessories in-store, with access to the wider IKEA range via home delivery or free next-day collection.
The site also includes a takeaway food counter, offering items such as Swedish meatballs and hot dogs. The new format aims to bring the retailer “closer to where people live, work and shop”.
The Harlow launch is part of a wider UK expansion for the Swedish retailer. IKEA plans to open new Plan and Order Points in Dundee and York, small stores in Norwich and Chester, and a city centre store in Brighton.
It has already launched a Plan and Order Point in Hull and a flagship site on London’s Oxford Street this year.
Peter Jelkeby, chief executive and chief sustainability officer at IKEA UK and Ireland, said: “The opening of IKEA Harlow marks an exciting milestone as we explore new ways to bring IKEA closer to our customers. We are opening our doors just over 100 days after acquiring the lease to the site, having made use of the existing structure to get our store ready at pace.
“By continuously reviewing and adapting our store formats, we aim to offer a more personalised and accessible retail experience. These new small-format stores fit seamlessly into our wider omnichannel strategy, ensuring our physical and digital channels work together to meet the diverse needs of our customers.”
