Åhléns continues to expand its physical store network in Sweden. On Friday, the company announced that it has signed an agreement to open a brand new department store at Avion Shopping in Umeå. The new unit will be located on the shopping center's upper floor and will cover an area of approximately 2,200 square meters.
The opening is scheduled for spring 2027, making it Åhléns' first new department store to open next year. The assortment in the new store will consist of clothing, beauty products, home furnishings, and children's items.
Second Establishment in the City
The department store chain is already represented in the central parts of Umeå. Through the agreement with Avion Shopping, the company is carrying out its second establishment in the city, which, according to management, is part of strengthening its presence in both city centers and external retail locations.
I am very pleased that Åhléns has now signed an agreement to open another department store in Umeå next year, now at Avion shopping center. This will be our second department store in Umeå, which shows that we are investing in the future of Åhléns in Umeå and the entire region, says Ayad Al-Saffar, CEO and owner of Åhléns, and continues:
I strongly believe in physical retail and really want to promote it, both in central locations and shopping centers throughout Sweden, and am now working to get all the details in place before the opening of our next new establishment. We are aiming for a premiere and to welcome our guests already in the spring.
Trimming Both Store Network and E-commerce
The new establishment in Umeå takes place during a period where the department store chain has shown increased results. As Ehandel.se previously reported, Åhléns started its new fiscal year with growth and an operating profit of 43 million Swedish krona during the first quarter, something that Ayad Al-Saffar then described as an encouraging start to the year.
In addition to the approximately 50 physical department stores around the country, the group has also worked to streamline its digital business and e-commerce at ahlens.se. Among other things, the company has implemented a revised delivery strategy online to optimize customer flow and profitability in the digital channels.
To coordinate and drive development in both the physical department stores and within e-commerce, the company recently made changes in the management team. This happened when Karin Lindahl was promoted to vice president with overall responsibility for operations and sales. Now, the next piece of the puzzle is being put in place for the physical expansion ahead of spring 2027.