Lars Larsen wants to double JYSK

JYSK has reached 2,500 stores but owner and founder Lars Larsen’s dream is to double the number of stores worldwide.

Over time, the dream is to double the number of stores from 2,500 to 5,000 all together on a global scale. Already within the next five years, the goal is to open at least 700 new stores.

So says the owner and founder of JYSK, Lars Larsen, together with the CEO in JYSK Nordic, Jan Bøgh, in a large interview with the Danish business media Finans.

”You should not stop a train going at high speed. Instead, you should add on new coal. It is great fun to create more. It takes a long time to get a train up to speed again once it has slowed down. Therefore we keep the speed up. And we have the economy to try out something new,” says Lars Larsen to Finans.

JYSK to be worldwide

With the exception of Ireland and the small states Luxemburg and Lichtenstein, JYSK has stores across all of Europe today. Now, the ambition is for JYSK to grow on a global scale.

“I definitely want to see us across the globe, now that we have covered Europe. My dream is for JYSK to become worldwide,” says Lars Larsen to Finans.

According to Jan Bøgh, JYSK Nordic is currently investigating the possibilities for establishment in Israel and further expansion in Asia.

Furthermore, JYSK’s German company, DÄNISCHES BETTENLAGER, is in the process of entering the South American market, where Chile is likely the first stop.

Larsen is not going anywhere

Whether the doubling of JYSK will happen with Lars Larsen as chairman of the board, no one knows. However, he has no intention of stepping down from his role as visible chairman of the board in JYSK.

“That will only happen if I lose interest. The passion is still my drive, so I see no reason to change anything. I will stay on for many years more to come, as long as my health allows it,” says Lars Larsen to Finans.