The first furniture store in the Swiss mountains: Ikea is so widespread in Valais

class=”sc-29f61514-0 icZBHN”>

Soon the people of Valais no longer have Billy, Pax and Co. There will be no need to go to the valley for it. Because the first Ikea furniture store in a mountain canton of Switzerland is right next to us. After seven months of construction, the shell of the massive project in Les Morands near Riddes VS is ready, Ikea announced.

This is the tenth branch of the Swedish furniture manufacturer in Switzerland, after the first branch opened in Spreitenbach AG 50 years ago. As Ikea wrote in a statement, more than 300 skilled workers have worked so far in the most modern and greenest Ikea house in this country. When finally completed, the construction project cost over 100 million Swiss francs. The area of ​​the branch is approximately the size of three football fields.

Doesn’t open until next year

But the people of Valais need to be patient until they can buy Swedish furniture from Lower Valais. The scheme is scheduled to open in spring 2024. In addition to constructing the interior of the building and installing the photovoltaic system, approximately 200 positions also need to be filled to ensure smooth operation. According to the company, the recruitment process for this has been ongoing since September.

For Ikea, expanding into a mountainous region is extremely lucrative due to the large number of holiday apartments available. It has also become difficult for the people of Valais to reach an Ikea store so far. The location is also easily accessible to those from the Upper Valais. The drive from Visp to Riddes takes just under three-quarters of an hour. Less than fifteen minutes from Martigny.

When construction began in March, then-Ikea Switzerland boss Jessica Andere, 52, described the project as a “major milestone” for the Swedish furniture chain in Switzerland. Local politicians were also impressed: “The opening of the Ikea furniture store is a great opportunity for the community of Riddes and of particular economic importance for the entire canton of Valais,” said Riddes mayor Christel Duc in a speech outside Ikea this week. of the completed shell.

Source :Blick