Photo: Unsplash
Global retailer Ikea has finished building a distribution centre in Auckland ahead of opening its first store in New Zealand next year.
Its warehouse at Auckland Airport's The Landing Business Park will start stocking shipments from May 2025.
Ikea is spending $407 million on setting up an Auckland store, due to open in Sylvia Park towards the end of next year - an exact date is yet to be announced.
The 20,000 square metre warehouse was opened in a blessing ceremony of the building on Tuesday, by Te Ākitai Waiohua.
Ikea's fulfilment manager for New Zealand, Adrian Pidgeon, said the first test shipment was conducted in November, and contained products that will be used in the warehouse office.
"The completion of the first Ikea New Zealand external warehouse marks a pivotal milestone in our market entry and has been the result of significant collaboration between Ikea, our construction partners Colliers and the Auckland Airport team," he said.
"With the building now complete, many parts of the business are working together to ensure a great Ikea customer experience for New Zealanders supported by readily available products, no matter where they are located or how they choose to shop."
Pidgeon said the multiple full 40 foot shipping containers are expected to be transported daily from the warehouse to the Ikea Sylvia Park store.
Ikea New Zealand will have two dedicated supply streams from Malaysia and China, with products coming from all over the world.
The warehouse is on track to receive a 5 Green Star Certified Rating from the New Zealand Green Building Council. It will have EV charging infrastructure for co-workers and electric delivery vehicles.
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