The IKEA Group strengthens its integrated value chain by signing an agreement acquiring a production facility for particle board in Novgorod, Russia. The plant will produce light-weight, wood based panels, used in IKEA products, is reported in the official IKEA press release.

The plant is acquired from Pfleiderer Grajewo S.A, a subsidiary of the German Pfleiderer Group, already today a supplier to the IKEA Industry Group. Some conditions needs to be fulfilled before closing of the transactions, among others approval by Russian antitrust authorities, the process is expected to be finalised within the next few months.

The Novgorod plant has 380 employees and a production capacity of 500,000m3 particle board per year. Today a smaller part of its production is delivered to the IKEA furniture producer Swedwood Esipovo in the Moscow region. The plant will be integrated into the IKEA Industry Group operations after the conclusion of the transaction.

Russia is one of the fastest growing markets for the IKEA Group. Today the IKEA Group has 14 MEGA shopping centres and 14 IKEA stores in Russia, with 235 million visitors per year.