The last piece of the retail jigsaw at the IKEA-owned retail centre near Loulé has been slotted into place with the opening of a Leroy Merlin store.
The new business covers one hectare and claims to be the largest household goods store in the region.
Leroy Merlin’s designers say this is a new store format where shoppers are channelled through the various zones which include set-piece, furnished areas to give customers the design inspiration needed to make purchases.
There are 7,800 m2 of display area, Leroy’s management stating this is the “largest store in the region,” i.e. it is bigger than the one in Albufeira (pictured). There are 37,000 products available for DIY, decoration and gardening with a useful drive-in loading bay for large or heavy purchases.
Karin Blaise, the director of Leroy Merlin in Portugal, said the company's next two stores will be opening in Aveiro and Leiria in 2018," with this new store being the 12th store the French company has opened in Portugal."
This Loulé retail area park now has an IKEA store, MAR Shopping Algarve, Algarve Designer Outlet and Leroy Merlin.
History
In 1923, Adolphe Leroy and Rose Merlin, opened a business selling US military surplus goods. They later branched out into selling DIY products and supplies at moderate prices. In 1960, the company changed its name from Stock Américain to Leroy Merlin.
In the 80s and with 33 stores, the company was bought out by the Mulliez family, pioneers in mass marketing and in 1989 the first store outside of France opened in Spain.
Portugal became the fourth European country to welcome Leroy Merlin when the first store opened in Gondomar, near Oporto in 2003.
In 2007 ADEO was created as the holding company for Leroy Merlin and seven other DIY and home décor brands, each also having their own management.
