By The Rio Times | Created at 2026-08-15 12:20:37 | Updated at 2026-08-15 12:52:13
4 hours ago
Chile · Retail
Key Facts
- What is new: IKEA products are now sold on Falabella.com in Chile, launching in late August 2026.
- A global first: Chile is the third country where IKEA allows an outside marketplace to sell its goods, after Indonesia and China.
- Who fulfils orders: Falabella.com is the shop window, but IKEA handles the stock, shipping and customer service.
- New leader: Fernando de Peña became chairman of Falabella’s board on March 18, 2026, replacing Enrique Ostalé.
- His background: De Peña ran Falabella’s mall arm, Mallplaza, for about 35 years before taking the top job.
- The numbers: Adjusted second-quarter profit rose about 14% to CLP 223.6 billion (~US$245 million).
- Where it operates: Chile, Peru, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Uruguay.
Two years ago this company was fighting off a debt scare. Now it is opening its website to the world’s biggest furniture brand and handing the chair to a proven operator — a quiet sign that the crisis is behind it.
If you live in Chile and want a flat-pack bookshelf, you no longer need to drive to an IKEA store. You can now buy IKEA furniture on Falabella.com, the online marketplace run by South America’s biggest retailer.
One-stop reference
Company Intelligence
Every listed company in Latin America — financials, ownership and structure for 1,450+ companies across 26 exchanges, in one place.
IKEA lands on Falabella’s website
The launch is set for the last days of August 2026. It starts with a slice of the catalogue — storage, decoration, dining, bedroom, desks and living-room pieces.
This matters more than it sounds. Chile is only the third country where IKEA has let an outside marketplace sell its products.
The other two are Indonesia, through Shopee, and China, through Tmall and JD.com. Chile is the first outside Asia.
There is a clear split of jobs here. Falabella.com is the storefront where you browse and pay. IKEA looks after the stock, the delivery and the after-sales help.
This is not the same as the IKEA stores
Falabella already knows IKEA well. Back in 2018 it signed a franchise deal to build and run physical IKEA stores in Chile, Peru and Colombia.
The first store opened in Santiago in 2022, with Lima and Bogotá following. Under that deal, Falabella owns and operates the shops.
The new website tie-up is a different animal. Here IKEA is the seller and Falabella.com is simply the channel. Think of it as IKEA renting a huge, ready-made shopfront online.
A new man in the chair
The online move comes as Falabella changes hands at the top. Fernando de Peña became chairman of the board in March 2026.
He is not a newcomer. De Peña spent about 35 years at Mallplaza, Falabella’s shopping-centre arm, and built it into one of the region’s largest mall operators.
He replaced Enrique Ostalé and won backing from the founding families who control the group. In plain terms, the owners picked a steady, in-house hand rather than an outsider.
Back in profit after a rough patch
The timing is not an accident. In 2023 Falabella carried heavy debt and lost its investment-grade credit rating, which spooked lenders.
Since then it has sold assets, cut debt and steadied the ship. The second quarter of 2026 showed the recovery in the figures.
Adjusted profit rose about 14% to CLP 223.6 billion (~US$245 million). Revenue grew almost 7% to CLP 2.87 trillion (~US$3.14 billion).
The group’s bank did much of the heavy lifting. Its credit cards and loans grew fast, and that fed straight through to the bottom line.
Why you should care
If you live in Latin America, this is about choice and prices. More sellers on one trusted website usually means easier comparison and better deals for you.
If you invest in the region, the signal is bigger. A brand as careful as IKEA rarely lends its name to a partner it does not trust — and it just picked Falabella over the whole Western hemisphere.
It also shows where retail is heading here. The winners are building online marketplaces, banks and physical stores into one system, and Falabella is betting it can run all three.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy IKEA on Falabella.com right now?
Yes, in Chile. IKEA products go live on Falabella.com in the last days of August 2026, starting with storage, decoration, dining, bedroom and living-room items rather than the full catalogue.
Is this the same as the IKEA stores in Chile?
No. Falabella runs physical IKEA stores under a separate 2018 franchise deal. On Falabella.com, IKEA itself is the seller and handles the stock, shipping and customer service, while Falabella provides the website.
Who is Fernando de Peña?
He is Falabella’s new chairman of the board, in the role since March 18, 2026. He previously ran the group’s mall business, Mallplaza, for about 35 years and replaced Enrique Ostalé.
Is Falabella financially healthy again?
It has recovered strongly from its 2023 debt troubles. Adjusted second-quarter 2026 profit rose about 14% to CLP 223.6 billion (~US$245 million), helped mainly by fast growth at its bank.
Sources: Diario Financiero (DF.cl); La Tercera; Emol; Forbes Chile; CNN Chile; IKEA Global newsroom; FashionNetwork. Currency converted at CLP 914 per US$1.
