Ikea breaks ground on Hamilton distribution centre
Glover Road facility slated to open in summer 2027 and create “thousands” of direct and indirect jobs.
Shovels — not Allen keys — have hit the dirt on
a new Ikea customer distribution centre in Hamilton.
The multinational company held
an official groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday for the new Glover Road facility, which will span more than 480,000 square feet and replace an existing distribution centre in Mississauga.
With construction now underway, the facility, which will also feature a collection point where customers can pick up Ikea orders, is expected to open in summer 2027, the company announced in a media release.
The latest news on the project comes more than two years after Ikea confirmed it had
purchased 65 acres of land in rural Hamilton for $82 million, and more than a year after the company
officially announced its plans for the property at 212 Glover Rd.
The Swedish ready-to-assemble furniture company previously noted the new facility will support its expansion throughout southwestern Ontario.
The site is part of a plan that will see the company spend more than $400 million on projects aimed at expanding its fulfilment capabilities and making its retail experience “more affordable and convenient” for Canadians, noted the release.
Selwyn Crittendon, CEO and chief sustainability officer of Ikea Canada, said in a statement the expansion to Hamilton “marks a major milestone” for the company as it works to become “more accessible, affordable, and sustainable” for customers.
As part of the company’s sustainability efforts — which include halving emissions across the entire chain by 2030 — the Hamilton facility will “aim for” net-zero carbon certification as well as LEED Gold certification, according to the release.
The company said the Hamilton facility will play a “crucial role” in keeping products “readily available and delivery times short for customers,” noting the location is “highly accessible from a transport perspective and ideal for future growth in the market.”
While the facility will have a collection point for customers to pick up orders, Ikea products or food — like the classic POÄNG armchair and the iconic meatballs — will not be available for takeaway.
The distribution centre will “create thousands of direct and indirect jobs,” including in the warehouse as well as in delivery, kitchen installations, design services and third-party product assembly roles through services such as Taskrabbit.
