In Moscow, a Belarusian producer of home furnishings is moving to expand its footprint. Ulterior plans point to the opening of ten stores in the Russian capital during 2023, each store set to cover up to a thousand square meters. This development comes after a public statement by Bulat Shakirov, who chairs the Association of Shopping Centers, and indicates a wider push to fill the market space left by the exit of a long-established Swedish retailer.
The collaboration was formalized when a union delegation reached an agreement with Swed House, a Belarusian-owned company manufacturing items comparable to the IKEA assortment. The aim is to launch ten retail locations in Moscow in 2023, with the expectation that each site will span about 1,000 square meters. Shakirov noted the plan as a step toward revitalizing consumer choice in the housing and décor segment.
Looking ahead, officials anticipate a broader rollout across Russia, with as many as fifty chain stores expected to surface in the coming years. Negotiations are also underway to secure Swed House as a tenant within Mega shopping centers, signaling a strategic alliance intended to boost visibility and access to affordable furnishings in major urban hubs.
Industry observers point out that the current moment presents a favorable window to reclaim retail space vacated by the previous IKEA presence. The Belarusian producer operates manufacturing facilities in several regions, including Belarus itself as well as Russia, Kazakhstan, and China. The product range encompasses household goods, furniture, textiles, and other home essentials that align with the categories traditionally offered by the departed Swedish brand.
In late November, a Russian business daily referenced data from the Russian Association of Furniture and Woodworking Enterprises (AMDPR) noting the emergence of IKEA-like furnishings in the domestic market. Pavel Lyulin, who serves as vice president of the Association of Shopping Centers, highlighted that with IKEA stepping back from Russia, local manufacturers and distributors have accelerated their entry into online channels and smaller retail networks, a shift that had been constrained in the past by IKEA’s dominant market position. This evolving landscape is shaping new paths for domestic suppliers to reach customers, both online and in neighborhood shops, as competition in the home goods space intensifies.