"Kika" furniture in Serbia - Austrian company invested 30m EUR in first department store in Belgrade

Austrian furniture market chain "Kika" will open a department store worth about 30m EUR in Belgrade's settlement Bežanijska Kosa (Partizanske Avijacije Street) on November 26th. Having the surface of about 22,600 square meters, "Kika Beograd" is the largest furniture showroom in Serbia. At the end of November, over 30,000 articles, from furniture to textile and household articles, will be exhibited within the retail space of 11,000 square meters. The offer will include both cheap products and internationally designed high-quality products.

- Opening of the showroom in Belgrade is the sign that we keep expanding our business, and it is our next important step towards strengthening the position in central European market - says Paul Koch, the CEO of "Kika/Leiner" Group.

- We have created 200 new jobs by having the new furniture showroom built - said Zoran Mladenović, the Manager of "Kika" showroom in Belgrade.

- "Kika" currently cooperates with 15 Serbian suppliers and its aim is to establish cooperation with even larger number of local partners. Stable network and good relations with local partners certainly represent great advantages, which we have already experienced in the countries such as Hungary and Romania. In Romania, where "Kika" opened its first furniture showroom at the end of of the last year, about 36 local partners supply goods to "Kika/Leiner Group" and, thus, enable export worth about 15m EUR. The Group in Hungary has about 60 local partners. Therefore, "Kika" sees its new location in Serbia as one step further towards creation of new contacts with trade partners, strengthening of existing bonds and, consequently, positive influence on economic development - said the people in company "Kika".

"Kika" in Serbia

- After thorough and detailed market research, we are sure that Serbia is the country with great potential. That is why the entrance to the market of Serbia represented logical next step in our expansion - says Paul Koch, the CEO of "Kika/Leiner Group".

As he explained, selection of Serbia for the new location of "Kika" is the result of favorable geographic position of the country.

- The advantage of this position lies in central geostrategic position of Serbia in east Europe. Eight neighboring countries and well-developed infrastructure, as well as good connections with maritime and rail traffic, clearly make Serbia the destination for expansion. In addition, rapidly growing economy and, primarily, large area around Belgrade provide great potential for "Kika" - says Koch and explains that "Kika" concept has been conceived for the territory of Europe, but it still leaves room for adaptation to individual countries.

- With strong local managerial team, it is possible to ensure optimal implementation of our concept - said he.

- That means that "Kika" can react on local demands. For this reason, "Kika" cooperates and works with local suppliers and manufacturers. In that way it supports Serbian economy sector, expands our trade relations, and makes it possible for "Kika" customers to choose between local and global products. During the next few years, the company plans to additionally increase and improve its presence in east Europe. The expansion will be resumed at full steam - says Koch.

Technical information on construction

- The new furniture showroom in New Belgrade has been completed recently, after only 14 months of construction. Completion of works on time was ensured thanks to the cooperation with Serbian building company "Imel Group" and its partner - company "Ratko Mitrović-Dedinje" - said the people in company "Kika".

- Much preparation was needed for the new showroom to look perfect. Total of 79 km of electric cables and 53 km of IT cables have been installed. About 12,000 cubic meters of cement and 165 tons of steel have been used. Also, about 6,200 square meters of roof cover have been laid. Modernly designed building, with panoramic elevator, playroom , restaurant with 110 seats, garden with the corner for kids, and parking lot with 451 places will make the visit to "Kika" showroom a wonderful shopping experience for the whole family - said the people in company "Kika".

The facility occupies the gross surface of 22,633.50 square meters + 900 square meters of eaves and technical premises. It consists of basement, ground floor, first and second floors, and comprises 11,500 square meters of retail space, 850 square meters of office space, 600 square meters of restaurants and coffee shops, while the rest of the space is occupied by communication, storage and technical premises. This information is provided by "Imel" group, the chief contractor.

- After several months of preparations, the construction alone lasted for 10 months. It commenced in November 2008, and the works were technically finished in September 2009 when the Commission for technical review confirmed that the works were completed. At this moment, Department store is being filled with goods, while we are collecting all the necessary licenses – all administrative processes that are necessary for opening TC are expected to be finished at the beginning of November 2009 - it is stated in the announcement by "Imel Group".

Concept: all at one place

The concept of "Kika/Leiner Group" is beautiful life and individualized furniture of the best quality at favorable price. Founded in 1973 in Austria, "Kika" represents the supershowroom chain that sells top-quality articles for households, as well as home furniture, and it operates in Austria and central and east Europe.

The clients gets all at one place: top-quality service, huge assortment of impressive household articles, great offer of products in the package with significant offer of services, starting from computer-aided planning, laying of floors, delivery and installation works to "Kika" pickup bus. The big offer of products is exhibited on three floors in an attractive way.

Large number of household articles, from bed linens, textile products and curtains to floors and lamps, are exhibited on the ground floor. There is also a broad spectrum of dishes, eating utensils and kitchen equipment. The offer is supplemented with large assortment of attractive household products.

The buyers will find kitchens, bedrooms and living rooms of various styles, from modern to classical and traditional ones, on the second and the third floors. And since "Kika" offers complete service, the offer also includes series of furniture pieces, baby equipment, rooms for kids of various age, as well as equipment for lobbies and bathrooms.

"Kika" – company information

"Kika" was founded in 1973 as a "cash and carry" market and it quickly developed into a complete furniture showroom with broad assortment of goods and services. Since it was founded, 32 showrooms have been opened in Austria. "Kika" started its international expansion in 2001. The focus of expansion of "Kika" was placed on the countries of central and east Europe. "Kika/Leiner Group" with total of 67 locations in Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania represents one of the leading furniture chains in Europe. The showroom in Belgrade is the fifth facility opened by "Kika/Leiner Group" in 2009. The opening of new showrooms are in the pipeline. Together with Austrian furniture chain "Leiner", founded in 1910, "Kika/Leiner" company will soon have 100 years of experience in furniture sales. The company is currently owned by the fourth generation of one family, and its success is based on two crucial values - tradition and innovations. In 2008/2009, "Kika/Leiner Group" registered overall turnover of 1.265 billion EUR.