And we collect very well including France

The Ikea Group publishes today its financial results for the title of the year 2009-2010, ended August 31. The Swedish furniture giant reached a net profit of EUR 2.7 billion, an increase of 6.1 over the previous year, with a turnover of 23.1 billion, an increase of 7.7 (and 2.4 in comparable stores), of which 1.1 billion in food. IKEA remains one of the distributors cost-effective with a net margin of 11.7, while its gross margin rose from 44.6 to 46.1 over a year. At the same time, operational costs, excluding exceptional items, dropped by 2.3, reflecting the costs of structure improved. Equity rose from 37.1 to 41.3 billion euros. IKEA, which has reduced its debt in the long term of 213 million, has not paid a dividend to Stichting Ingka Foundation, which control the group.

IKEA now publishes its annual financial results. Why this decision

In most of the 41 countries where we are located, including 26 where we have stores, Ikea remains relatively small business. But we are a global company with many employees, 127,000 in late August 2010. Even if the group is private, property of a foundation based in the Netherlands, and is therefore not obliged to publish its accounts, we believe that it is good, at least once per year, to say what we do and where we are. In fact, the objective 1 of this publication is destined for the internal.

It is therefore not necessarily to inform markets and prepare a fundraising

We have even not thought, so it is obvious in the philosophy of Ikea, from the beginning, that we can only spend the money we have. The balance that has been built over the years allows the group to realize his ambition, namely to reduce permanently the price of products to reach more people. It is our model, and this, regardless of economic cycles. Last year, we invested EUR 2.1 billion, as the previous year and more or less the year of before.

What are your comments on the results of the fiscal year 2009-2010

They have exceeded our expectations, with growth in sales and gains in market share in most countries. China and the Russia recorded progressions in double digits. But, overall, we had also a very good development in Europe. The Germany is well distributed while southern Europe markets are more volatile. The United States are again dynamic. In total, twelve new stores in eight countries have created year last, without counting the many transfers and existing points of sale expansions to finally finish the year with 280 stores in 26 countries.

In France, the image of Ikea was damaged by a long dispute over wages that is almost a year. Have what lessons you learned

Each year, we let our employees to find out what they think of their work at Ikea. And we collect very well, including France. A salary point of view, our policy is to be at the level of the sector average. We stick to our principles. In many countries, we are "preferred business" employees and overall Ikea is one of the 50 most attractive companies.

What are the plans of the France group

We have had in France a fantastic development. IKEA has tripled its market share of over the past nine years. The sign must now have a national coverage of the territory. I really hope that we will be able to implement our project of a second store near Lyon and a first finally in Nice, where this is twenty-five years that we are looking to us.

Where are you from your goals of sustainable development

The share of wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council is increased to 23.6 last year, compared with 16.2 the previous year. We continue to invest in renewable energy with the goal of our group works with 100 renewable energy. It is almost the case in Sweden, 98, and overall we to about 50.

How do you see the current year

Never we had seen such differences between countries. We open 7 stores this year and Ikea prepares for a new phase of expansion. Consumers have never been as numerous in our stores and they never bought.