JYSK to take over 25 franchise stores in three countries

JYSK has agreed to take over 25 stores and the associated country operations in Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia from its current franchise partner. The Danish home furnishings retailer intends to run these markets directly and develop the existing organisation to support further growth. The takeover is expected to take effect on 1 January 2027, subject to the relevant regulatory approvals.

Three franchise markets move to direct operation

The agreement was announced in a JYSK press release on 6 October 2026. It covers both the stores and the country operations in all three countries. The change therefore extends beyond how individual retail outlets are run: the organisations supporting the retailer’s local presence are also included in the takeover.

The 25 stores are distributed as follows:

• Kosovo: 12 stores.
• North Macedonia: seven stores.
• Albania: six stores.

Kosovo accounts for almost half the stores covered by the agreement. These are three established markets where JYSK now intends to take over responsibility from the franchise partner that has run the business until now.

For Denmark’s franchise sector, the news offers a concrete example of a Danish retailer moving from franchising to direct operation in selected overseas markets. This is not a story about a new store opening in Denmark, but about how a Danish retailer organises its international presence after years of working with a franchise partner.

The franchise partner established the local presence

JYSK entered Kosovo through its franchise business in 2004. North Macedonia followed in 2008, while the retailer has been present in Albania since 2015. At the time of the announcement, franchising had therefore underpinned its presence in all three countries for more than a decade.

According to JYSK, the 25 stores have established it as a well-known home furnishings retailer in the region. It now intends to build on this existing business. The plan is to develop the established country operations rather than start from scratch in new markets.

This background also explains why the takeover should be understood as a change in operating model rather than a market launch. The stores, organisations and local presence already exist. In the next phase, JYSK itself will take responsibility for running and further developing the business.

The three different entry dates also show how this presence has been built over time. The agreement now brings these three franchise markets together in a single planned takeover, although their histories with JYSK began at different points.

The ambition is to open more stores

JYSK says the agreement is intended to support further growth in the region. The retailer aims to open more stores and strengthen its presence in the three countries. According to the press release, the goal is to make it easier for customers to access its range of Scandinavian-designed products for sleeping and living.

It is important to distinguish between the agreed takeover and the ambition to expand. The 25 stores included in the deal are existing outlets. Future openings represent the next stage of development, and the announcement gives neither a specific number of new stores nor a timetable for opening them.

JYSK says it has more than 3,700 stores, alongside online shops, across 49 countries. The takeover therefore concerns a limited part of its international presence. This specific decision applies to Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia and should not be read as an announcement that the retailer is moving away from franchising generally.

Approvals are needed before the takeover can proceed

The expected effective date is 1 January 2027. However, JYSK explicitly states that the transaction is subject to the relevant regulatory approvals. The agreement has therefore been signed, but the takeover had not been completed at the time of the announcement.

According to JYSK, business will continue as usual for customers. They can continue shopping at their local stores in Kosovo, North Macedonia and Albania. The announced change is therefore primarily about who will run the stores and develop the country operations, while the existing business continues.

Practical takeaway: For Danish franchisors and franchisees, it is worth following both the completion of the takeover and the subsequent store-opening plans. Distinguish between the 25 stores being acquired and the new stores JYSK hopes to establish.