COPENHAGEN: IKEA stores in Denmark could be converted into emergency shelters or temporary hospitals in the event of war, floods, blackouts or attacks on critical infrastructure, as European countries expand preparations for potential crises.
The plan would make use of the retailer’s existing facilities, including display beds, warehouse supplies, restaurant kitchens and generators to provide accommodation, food and essential services.
Torben Mortensen, security chief at Denmark’s largest IKEA store, said the company wanted to support communities during emergencies.
The initiative is part of Denmark’s Corporate Coalition for Crisis Preparedness, a network that identifies resources private businesses could provide during emergencies. The European Union is also encouraging closer cooperation between governments and businesses under its Preparedness Union Strategy, launched in March 2025.
The approach has already been tested in Spain, where IKEA converted one of its stores into a shelter for more than 600 people during deadly floods in Valencia in October 2024.
IKEA said it does not have a global emergency preparedness programme, with such arrangements managed separately in each country.