Ikea calls 2022 an ‘exceptional year’ despite challenges

Swedish home furnishings giant Ikea has said that despite “unprecedented challenges” caused by the war in Ukraine, supply chain disruptions, increased inflation and lingering fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic, 2022 had been an “exceptional year”.

The world’s biggest furniture brand reported retail sales of 39.5 billion euros (£34 billion) this financial year, which ran from September 1, 2021, to August 31. That was a 5.6% increase from the previous year’s sales of 37.4 billion euros (£32 billion).

However, inflation and supply chain issues led to rising costs and higher prices, meaning sales quantities were down though they cost more and there were struggles to keep shelves full.

“We lived up to the challenge — achieving solid performance in a disrupted environment, making tough decisions, while always keeping sight of the needs and dreams of the many,” said Jesper Brodin, chief executive of the holding company Ingka that manages most of Ikea’s stores.

He said “uncertainties will continue be part of our lives in the coming years”.

Anna Hallqvist Gedda, chief financial officer of Ikea Sweden, told Swedish news agency TT that “the fact that more people are chasing lower prices in expensive times seems to have benefited Ikea”.

In March, the maker of flat-pack home products halted its retail operations in Russia after the invasion of Ukraine. It then said it suspended operations at its 17 Russian stores and paused exports and imports involving the country. It also paused operations in Belarus, which is a Russian ally.

It has said many of its 15,000 employees in Russia and Belarus would lose their jobs and has guaranteed six months of pay for them, as well as core benefits, without offering more specifics.

This summer, Ikea was selling the remainder of its Russian inventory online as it moved forward with leaving the country.