Ekornes Group, has announced plans to expand its plant in Lithuania. The company’s production and distribution facility in Panevėžys Free Economic Zone (FEZ) is set to grow to 25,000 sq. m., with more than 100 specialists joining the factory’s 200-strong team.

Founded in 1934, Ekornes has grown from a local mattress manufacturer to a globally recognized brand. The company develops and manufactures products of outstanding comfort and functionality, including chairs, sofas, and beds. Today, Ekornes is present in 48 countries, with 19 sales offices around the world serving more than 4,000 sales points.

Seeking to further its competitive position in Europe, Ekornes opened a plant in Panevėžys in 2019. Lithuania was a good fit for the company’s first combined production and distribution facility due to the country’s skilled labour force and strategically advantageous position, which facilitates shorter product delivery times.

“In Panevėžys, we found a strong supply chain for furniture manufacturing and an excellent business infrastructure that enabled us to find new distribution channels across Europe,” says Trond Vadset Veibust, Senior Vice President for IT and Strategic Projects at Ekornes Group. “That is why we decided to expand our facility in Panevėžys FEZ by adding new team members and more manufacturing and warehousing space.”

Ekornes has around 3,100 employees worldwide. The company’s Panevėžys facility currently employs over 200 people, a number which is expected to increase to well over 350 over the next few years.