After sparking global curiosity and delighting visitors with 75,000 tastings during Milan Design Week this April, Ingka Group, the largest IKEA retailer, will bring the limited edition meatball flavoured lollipop to customers worldwide this June. Available for a short time only, customers will have the chance to enjoy tasting it for free while visiting IKEA stores.
By reimagining the iconic IKEA meatball in a playful new format, the collaboration with Chupa Chups (the producer of the meatball flavoured lollipop) celebrates curiosity, creativity and the joy food can spark. It reflects the IKEA ambition to create shared moments and bring a taste of Sweden into everyday life.
The first tasting events began in Germany on 23 May, and will be followed by Italy, Belgium, France, Portugal, Switzerland and Spain on 5-6 June. Next, the US, Spain, Poland, Finland, Canada, Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Slovakia, Denmark follow. The United Kingdom and Ireland will host tasting events between June 19 and 21, while Australia and New Zealand will surprise customers on June 20, followed by Midsummer celebrations on June 21 in the Netherlands and South Korea, and then again in the United States. Later in China, and during August in Norway. In total, the limited edition meatball flavoured lollipop will reach over 300 stores worldwide, with IKEA stores as the exclusive place to taste it.
“What started as a playful idea quickly became something we knew customers would love experiencing in real life,” said Javier Quiñones, Commercial Manager at Ingka Group. “With one million meatball flavoured lollipops across 24 markets, we’re inviting people to celebrate Swedishness in an unexpected way, discovering a joyful taste of Sweden that sparks curiosity and brings a smile.”
The meatball flavoured lollipop is a bold twist on one of the company’s most iconic foods. Inspired by Swedish food culture and the spirit of Midsummer (Midsommar), it invites customers to experience a familiar flavour in a completely new way.
In participating Ingka markets and stores, visitors can also explore interactive activations, from KALLAX game stations with hidden surprises to selfie spots featuring a giant lollipop. Activations may vary by market, with details available via local IKEA stores and social channels.
What began as an April Fools’ idea quickly became a global phenomenon. After the April reveal, 75,000 lollipops were sampled at Milan Design Week, where visitors enthusiastically embraced the unexpected flavour. Now, with 1 million lollipops produced, the experience is reaching customers worldwide creating memorable, conversation starting moments in stores.
“At Chupa Chups, we believe in turning everyday moments into fun and surprising experiences. Reimagining the iconic IKEA meatball flavour as a lollipop captures our ‘Forever Fun’ spirit, and we’re excited to share it with so many people worldwide,” said Martin Hofling, Global Marketing Manager at Chupa Chups.
*The meatball flavoured lollipop is not an IKEA product, but the result of a creative collaboration between IKEA and Chupa Chups. It will not be for sale.
*The meatball flavoured lollipop will not be available in Sweden, Japan, India, Serbia, Croatia, Romania, and Slovenia.
About Ingka Group
With IKEA retail operations in 32 markets, Ingka Group is the largest IKEA retailer and represents 87% of IKEA retail sales. It is a strategic partner to develop and innovate the IKEA business and help define common IKEA strategies. Ingka Group owns and operates IKEA sales channels under franchise agreements with Inter IKEA Systems B.V. It has three business areas: IKEA Retail, Ingka Investments and Ingka Centres. Read more on Ingka.com.
About Chupa Chups
Founded in 1958, Chupa Chups has been spreading fun and flavour around the world for over six decades. Chupa Chups is part of Perfetti Van Melle (PVM) a privately owned company that manufactures and distributes confectionery and chewing gum in more than 140 countries. PVM is a global leader in the confectionery industry, thanks to delighting consumers around the world with its innovative, diverse and most loved products.
The company boasts a diverse portfolio of iconic local and internationally recognized brands cherished by generations such as Mentos, Chupa Chups, Alpenliebe, Airheads, Center, Fruit-tella, Big Babol, Vivident, Golia, Vigorsol, Smint and Frisk. In addition, Trident, Hollywood, Dentyne, Stimorol, V6 and Bubblicious in the United States, Canada, and Europe.
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