Jotun, a major regional paint manufacturer, has announced the opening of its 2000th Multicolor Centre in the Middle East, India and Africa market. The opening of the inspirational center in the Obhur district, north of Jeddah, marks Jotun’s plans to further strengthen and expand its regional reach and distribution.

The milestone store was inaugurated by Odd Gleditsch, Jotun’s chairman of the board, and Peder Bohlin, VP of Jotun in the Middle East, India and Africa (MEIA), along with members of the regional and local management teams.

Bohlin said: “The Middle East has been one of Jotun’s strongest markets. We are extremely proud of the opening of the inspirational Multicolor Centre as it is testament to the success that has been achieved in the region. With the opening of our 2000th store, we not only enhance our distribution channels, but also become much more accessible to the existing and potential customers.”

This inauguration takes the number of Jotun stores in Saudi Arabia from 352 to 400 in 2014 alone. Jotun saw a similar growth pattern across the rest of the MEIA region. Following the opening of the 2000th Multicolor Centre in Saudi Arabia, Jotun plans to open an additional 350 stores in the region within the next two years.

The Jotun Multicolor Centre was first conceptualized in 1976 and made its way to the Middle East in the mid-1980s. The center has evolved tremendously to now have over 7,000 technologically advanced machines operating in 83 countries. The increase in number of homeowners across the region has given rise to the need for expansion.

Research shows that color is the starting point when it comes to paint purchases. Homeowners will primarily be drawn to a color and its functionality in a space before making the decision to purchase paint.