Development

LEIDEN, NETHERLANDS — Ingka Group has announced plans to invest $2.2 billion over the course of the next three years on new IKEA retail locations and omnichannel growth across the United States. The Leiden, Netherlands-based company is the largest owner of IKEA stores globally, representing more than 90 percent of IKEA retail sales with more than 370 stores and 100 home décor planning studios open across 31 countries.  The initial phase of investment will include opening eight stores in IKEA’s traditional format and nine “Plan and Order” points, which are smaller stores dedicated to kitchen, bedroom and living room planning. Plan and Order is an extension of IKEA’s existing planning studio business and is a relatively new endeavor for the company, with only two locations currently open in England. Ingka Group’s new stores will be primarily located in the Southern United States, a region where IKEA currently has a smaller concentration of locations, according to reports by The Wall Street Journal. These stores will create over 2,000 jobs upon completion.  IKEA US, the American subsidiary of the retailer, has also announced new locations in San Francisco and Arlington, Va., that are set to open this summer.  The $2.2 billion investment …