Jula opens department store in Haparanda.

The Jula Holding Group's real estate company, G&K Blanks Fastigheter, has purchased a property in the Björka trading area in Haparanda. Here, along the E4 highway and close to IKEA's shopping center and the city of Tornio in Finland, the company plans to open a Jula store of 3,000 square meters in autumn 2024.

The owner sees the establishment in Haparanda as a distinct border trade department store focused on both Sweden and Finland.

"The acquisition of the property in Haparanda is thus linked to our establishment in the Finnish market. In one year, we have already opened seven department stores in Finland with the aim of soon becoming nationwide. Since our first establishment, we have entered the Finnish market very well. It is clear that our concept works in Finland, at least as well as in the Swedish market," says Karl-Johan Blank, owner of Jula Holdings. He is the second generation of the owner family. His two sons Christian and Fredric are also active in the business.

Jula is a family business, founded by Lars-Göran Blank and his wife Irene in 1979 on the Jultorp farm in Skara, southern Sweden. The group now operates 136 stores, 68 in Sweden, 41 in Norway, 20 in Poland and 7 in Finland. In addition, the company operates an extensive e-commerce business.

The establishment of a new department store in Haparanda means about 20 new jobs.

Lennart Håkansson

editor@northswedenbusiness.com