The Biltema retail chain is now being forced to close a department store. The reason is to be found in northern Norway, where there is a lack of customers from Russia.
Sanctions, which are actually aimed at Russia, make it impossible for the Biltema store chain to do business.
The company itself points this out in a press release.
In the northernmost part of Norway, where it borders Russia, is one of the company's warehouses, which has been struggling ever since Norway closed the border to all Russians.
– After thorough assessments, we have unfortunately had to make the difficult decision to close the store in Kirkenes.
– The sanctions against Russia, after they went to war against Ukraine, are leading to a persistently lower level of activity in Kirkenes.
– The situation has been tough ever since the border was closed. After careful consideration, we have unfortunately had to make the difficult decision to close the store,
writes Biltema .
How badly Biltema's revenue has been hit since the Russians were denied entry to Norway is not clear from the very brief press release.
Biltema is actually a Swedish chain of retail stores that was founded in Sweden back in 1968.
The expansion first took place in Norway in 1983, the concept came to Finland two years later, but was first introduced in Denmark in 2002.
Paradoxically, the chain's largest department store is located in Denmark. More specifically, in Roskilde, where the store is almost 8,000 square meters in size.
Back in Norway, the company emphasizes that no employees will be laid off, even though a department store is now to be closed. The famous people will instead be offered positions in other stores.
However, the closure means that the company only has one store left in northern Norway, namely one located just over half an hour's drive from Kirkenes.
