A FURNITURE group backed by the former boss of Habitat is planning to go head-to-head with rival Ikea when it opens in the UK next year.

Danish company Ilva, which was taken over in a deal led by former Habitat chief executive Martin Toogood last March, is planning its first UK superstore next spring, with 19 more to follow during the next ten years.

Mr Toogood is in talks for sites in London, Newcastle, Cardiff, Leeds, Reading, Manchester and Glasgow, a spokeswoman for private equity firm Advent International said.

The former Habitat chief executive's acquisition of Ilva for 100 million euros (£67m) was backed by Advent, the firm that also owns Poundstretcher.

Ilva is Denmark's second largest furniture retailer and has a product range similar to that of Ikea, although its prices are seen as marginally more expensive.

The company is said to be ready to compete with Ikea, which has built 12 furniture superstores since entering Britain in 1991.

Mr Toogood is expecting to sign leases for Ilva in the next few weeks.

The news comes a day after sofa retailer DFS warned that annual profits would be at the lower end of expectations as a result of intense competition in the industry.

Mr Toogood is also a former chief executive of DIY retailer B&Q and was a non-executive director at Carpetright.