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Ikea has announced a $13.5-million investment to increase space at its Edmonton store by 10 per cent.

Construction at the 1311 102 Street store is set to begin in July and will expand the outlet by nearly 3,000-square-metres, said Stefan Sjostrand, president of Ikea Canada.

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The Swedish furniture store will employ 135 workers to assist with the expansion, set to be completed by the end of 2017.

“It is fantastic opportunity for us to really do an expansion now because we really need it,” said Sjostrand, who was in Edmonton Wednesday to announce the expansion to 342 employees.

Sales at the Edmonton store have increased almost 10 per cent, year-over-year, Sjostrand said, because of low-pricing and a weaker Canadian dollar causing people to stay at home more.

“Home renovation projects are increasing significantly and we have, of course, a strong market leadership,” he said. “We sell 13 kitchens per day on average in our Edmonton store.”

If the growth continues beyond 2017, he said, the company will consider hiring more employees.

Sjostrand, who took over at Ikea Canada in 2014, joined the company in 2007 as a global manager in the Netherlands. He previously served as senior vice-president at Ikea France.

Combined, the Edmonton and Calgary Ikea outlets saw three million visitors last year, roughly 12 per cent of total visitors to Ikea Canada.