IKEA Japan Press Statement

The IKEA world is deeply concerned about the situation in Japan with regard to its co-workers there, as well as the country at large. To date, IKEA Japan has offered its co-workers in the Tokyo area (and their immediate family) the option to temporarily and voluntarily relocate to Kansai.

IKEA Japan will actively support any IKEA co-worker in Tokyo and his/her immediate family who feel concerned about staying in the area over the next days. Temporary accommodation, as well as transport to Kansai, will be arranged and paid for by IKEA. IKEA offers this choice to all co-workers in the Tokyo area.

IKEA Japan has and continues in-kind donations and has shipped out over 5,000 blankets to evacuated people and plush toys and other toys are being distributed in cooperation with Save the Children. Trucks containing warmth and light products, as well as IKEA food are being shipped daily; donation boxes in co-operation with Save the Children are also placed in the open Tsuruhama and Kobe stores. IKEA US co-workers are being encouraged to support the company’s global partners, Save the Children and UNICEF.

IKEA currently has 5 stores in Japan; three in Tokyo and one store in Tsuruhama and another in Kobe. The IKEA Tokyo stores will remain closed until the situation has stabilized. Co-workers in Japan receive daily updates from IKEA via mobile phone and email.

About IKEA:
IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings company, was founded in 1943 in Sweden. Since then, IKEA has offered home furnishings and accessories of great design and quality with functional living solutions at everyday low prices. Currently there are more than 300 IKEA stores in 37 countries, including 49 in North America (11 in Canada; 37 in the US; 1 in the Dominican Republic). IKEA has six distribution centers in North America, with a manufacturing facility in Danville, VA. IKEA has been named to Business Week’s List of The Best Global Brands (August 7, 2006) for four consecutive years and Business Week’s List of the Top 2009 Twenty Best Companies for Leadership (February 2010). Additionally, IKEA has been listed on Working Mother magazine’s annual list of the “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers” for four consecutive years. IKEA was also listed in March 2007, on Fast Company’s Fast 50, for its environmentally responsible products, as well as for five consecutive years in Training magazine’s annual list of top companies that excel at human capital development. TIME Magazine (May 2009) listed IKEA as one of the top 8 most global eco conscious companies. IKEA incorporates environmentally friendly efforts into day-to-day business and continuously supports initiatives that benefit causes such as children and the environment including UNICEF, Save the Children and American Forests. To visit the IKEA Web site, please go to www.IKEA-usa.com and also learn more about IKEA environmental and social responsibility actions and programs. Also visit www.Facebook.com/IKEAUSA.