IKEA is looking at opening new stores in Ireland, the company’s Deputy CEO has told Breakfast Business.

The company has this morning announced bumper profits in Ireland – with sales jumping 16% to €252 million in the financial year to August.

IKEA UK and Ireland Deputy CEO Marsha Smith said sales in Ireland were “slightly better” than expected and much of the growth came from new click and collect service in smaller towns. 

“We knew that we were having quite a good year, we could see that there was a good takeup of some of the new services, a lot of interest in the new Plan and Order points that we have around the country,” she  told Breakfast Business. 

IKEA current has Plan and Order points in Naas, Cork, Drogheda and Dublin’s St Stephen Green. 

The company plans to announce two more in the near future and Ms Smith said “eventually” the number will rise to around 12 nationwide. 

Dublin's Ikea store in Ballymun is seen in 2009. Picture by: James Horan/RollingNews.ie

Currently, the Swedish furniture multinational has two megastores on the island of Ireland - one in Ballymun, Dublin and another in Belfast - but more are on the cards. 

“We would love to increase that number,” Ms Smith said. 

“There’s always lots going on in the background; I think we’re a very responsible company in that we really sort of take our time. 

“We do a lot of research, we look into where can we be sure people will come to and also that it’s a good business proposition.” 

Ms Smith said the Dublin store received 3.2 million visitors last year and praised the “incredible” work staff had done there. 

“We want to make sure that we make the right decisions with where we go,” she said. 

“But hopefully, [there will be] some new [stores] soon.” 

IKEA first opened in Ireland in 2009 and now employs around 700 people.

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Main image: IKEA's Ballymun store in July 2009. Picture by: Ros Drinkwater / Alamy Stock Photo