IKEA Centers Russia has announced a major extension at its MEGA Adygea-Kuban mall, located in southern Russia near the Black Sea. The GLA of the shopping centre is being more than doubled to 190,000 sqm, creating a next generation meeting place and leisure destination for the 14 million people who visit MEGA Adygea-Kuban every year.
An exciting new lakeside alfresco dining concept will be incorporated, providing a brand new leisure destination for the city. 6000 sqm will be dedicated to delivering the largest concentration of international fashion brands in the region. While a further 6500 sqm will provide healthy, high quality and affordable new F&B space across 30 enclosed and open air cafes and restaurants. €190 million will be invested to deliver the extension which will complete in 2021.
Creating meeting places that are essential in people’s everyday lives is at the heart of IKEA Centers Russia’s strategy, and fundamental to its major €2 billion investment program that is currently being rolled out across its 14 MEGA branded Russian shopping centers. MEGA malls are being upgraded to become meeting places where visitors connect, socialize, experience new things, shop eat, and naturally feel attracted to spend time.
Milen Gentchev, CEO of IKEA Centres Russia, commented: “MEGA Adygea-Kuban is becoming an exciting new destination for its 14 million annual visitors. Anticipating guest expectations and constantly surprising them is key to the successful long-term development of our business. We believe in this vision, which is why we are updating our shopping centers to become meeting places for recreation, leisure and entertainment.”
At Moscow’s MEGA Teply Stan a €380 million revamp is transforming the shopping centre, where the GLA is being increased by 25 percent to 224,000 sqm. Taste Boulevard, a brand new F&B concept is already in place, while further new retail concepts, a park and winter garden will be incorporated by the end of 2022.
All MEGA malls are anchored by IKEA retail stores and provide a stable way for international retailers to target Europe’s largest consumer market. IKEA Centers Russia is a secure partner for international retailers looking to enter the Russian market where many of the cultural and legal barriers to entry have already been negotiated. In FY 2017, international brands Lindt, Superdry, Julius Meinl and Hunnkemoller all chose MEGA malls as their first location for Russian outlets.