Ikea to close one of it's large stores for the first time since arriving in the UK
The first store opened in Warrington in 1987
Ikea has confirmed plans to shut one of its large UK stores for the first time in its 33-year history in the country.
The company said it will close the doors of its £35 million Coventry branch, which opened at Christmas in 2007, with 352 workers expected to lose their jobs.
The Swedish furniture and home improvement giant added the site in the city centre was too expensive to keep operating and had lost customers to retail parks and online shopping.
In a statement, Ikea said: "The store was built over seven levels, which resulted in a significant impact on the operating costs of the store and the shopping experience for customers.
"In addition, the changing behaviour of customers in the area who prefer to shop in retail parks and online has resulted in visitor numbers being substantially lower than expected and continuing to decrease over time.
"These factors have led to the store making consistent losses."
The company said it tried a number of initiatives to keep the store open but "these have not resolved the fundamental challenges connected to the location and the format of the store".
Published: by Radio NewsHub