Ikea prepares first anniversary celebration in Southampton (From This is Hampshire)

Ikea prepares first anniversary celebration in Southampton

5:30am Friday 12th February 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(5)

THE pulling power of Swedish flat pack furniture is demonstrated beyond doubt by news that 3,269,323 shoppers have passed through the door of Ikea’s Southampton superstore since it opened a year ago today.

Now bosses plan to celebrate the milestone with a week of family entertainment and in-store offers.

The recession beating performance comfortably tops pre-opening forecasts of two million customers and is likely to have outperformed the predicted £55m turnover figure.

Southampton shoppers have guzzled 3,506,185 portions of meatballs which they swilled down with 519,075 cups of tea and coffee.

Charities have also done well out of the opening with the store raising £257,927 for Save the Children and UNICEF.

Store manager Allesandra Taffe said: “We’ve had a fantastic first year and plan to celebrate our birthday in style! We hope as many people as possible will be able to join us.”