RETAIL WEEK INTERIORS - Ikea Croydon set for UK top spot following revamp

Ikea's 269,105 sq ft (25,000 sq m) store in Croydon is poised to become the Swedish home furnishing giant's largest UK store by turnover.

The store is presently in second place, behind Ikea Brent Cross. Ikea Croydon store manager Goran Nilsson said: 'We will take them.' The store is mid-way through a major refurbishment, with much work still to be done.

So far,£10 million has been spent and many new elements are already in place.

Nilsson said that the store is 'severely under-dimensioned', but was trading well despite considerable upheavals during the present phase of work.

He said: 'I have had higher increases in this store than the other London stores, which were trading normally. I'm really proud of that - the profit is up as well.'