A major coup is being claimed by Croydon's Whitgift shopping centre after one of Sweden's top retailers chose it as the location for its first UK store.

Clas Ohlson will open its 20,000 sq ft store – roughly the size of the centre's WHSmith's – in premises currently occupied by clothes store George and Books etc.

The company has been trading in Scandinavia for 90 years and has 87 stores throughout Sweden, Finland and Norway.

But the company has never ventured outside Scandinavia before.

Leo Duggan, of Jones Lang LaSalle, the store's UK agent, said it would occupy a unique retail position, offering more than 15,000 products covering house and home, garden tools, technology and hobbies.

He said: “There is really nothing like them in the UK.”

Mr Duggan said Clas Ohlson had deliberately looked for a prime location within the M25 for it's first UK branch.

Croydon fitted the bill because it is a well-established retail hub.

Mr Duggan said: “The town has other advantages in being close to central London and has good access to other parts of the country.”

It is hoped the Croydon shop, accessible from both inside the centre and from North End, will be open by the end of the year.

Clas Ohlson's long-term ambition is to open a string of stores in other prime locations across the UK over the next three years, as well as launching an online and home delivery service.

Andrew Bauer, director of the Whitgift's centre, was delighted Croydon had been chosen.

He said: “I believe the decision by Clas Ohlson to come here is a huge statement of confidence in Croydon in general and in the Whitgift specifically.”

He said the company was well-established in Scandinavia and it was encouraging that Croydon was its top choice for a flagship store.

“In the current market this is something that the town can take great pride in,” he said.

“You hear so much doom and gloom so it has to be good news when such a successful company chooses to come to Croydon.”