IKEA Switzerland becomes the first market to contract social enterprises through the Social Enterprise Partnership Programme, a joint initiative between Ingka Group, IKEA Social Entrepreneurship and Yunus Social Innovation, bringing inclusive employment into its core kitchen services operation.
IKEA Switzerland has contracted two local social enterprises, BAND and VEBO, to deliver kitchen installation and repair services to customers with an IKEA kitchen. The move is the first live commercial result of the Social Enterprise Partnership (SEP) Programme: a global initiative that aims to integrate businesses creating employment opportunities for marginalised people into long-term supply chain partnerships.
"This pilot in Switzerland shows something we’ve long believed: that social enterprises are not a compromise: they are a real supply chain option. The SEP Programme exists to unlock exactly this kind of partnership, and we intend to replicate it across markets. Inclusive employment and business performance are not in tension. This proves they can go hand in hand."– Raphael Guillard, Global Supply Chain Partnerships Leader, Ingka Group
The SEP Programme is a structured global effort developed jointly by Ingka Group, IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, and Yunus Social Innovation (YSI). IKEA Social Entrepreneurship is the IKEA-backed initiative that has supported close to 200 social enterprises across 35 countries since 2012, specialising in helping inclusive businesses reach the scale needed to operate as credible commercial partners. YSI brings deep expertise in social innovation, helping large corporations build inclusive value chains by sourcing from and partnering with social enterprises. Together, they provide the framework, methodology, and on-the-ground matching capability that connects Ingka markets with local social enterprises ready to deliver.
Switzerland is the first market to reach the programme milestone of contracting a social enterprise as a live supply chain partner. Starting this month (May, 2026) in the central and western part of Switzerland, BAND will begin kitchen assemblies directly, while VEBO will start with after-sales and repair calls before moving to full kitchen installation. Both companies will be integrated into IKEA Switzerland’s central supply chain platform and receive orders alongside other kitchen service providers, at comparable cost. Both employ people with disabilities and those who need additional support as a core part of their workforce. This is not a social add-on but a deliberate business model.
A new model for inclusive service delivery
In practice, each kitchen installation or repair visit will be staffed by a licensed supervisor alongside a person with a disability, replacing the conventional two-carpenter model. This approach allows both companies to deliver commercial-grade services while actively expanding employment opportunities for people who are often excluded from skilled trades.
The customer journey is straightforward by design. When a repair is needed, IKEA’s customer support team forwards the request directly to BAND or VEBO. IKEA ships the necessary spare parts to the customer’s home; the social enterprise partner schedules and carries out the visit. This is a fully integrated service offer, not a referral or add-on.
"They’re very fast at setting up new solutions, and they are very willing to test and try. They brought ideas we hadn’t considered: new repair services, new business models. It was a good reminder to stay open, and that is exactly the collaborative energy we want to build on."– Annik Müller, Sustainability Business Partner, IKEA Switzerland
Both enterprises bring established roots in Switzerland and a proven track record of inclusive employment, and will receive ongoing support to scale their operations and employ additional people with disabilities as the pilot grows. The pilot is being run with an intentionally iterative approach, testing and refining the workflow in real time based on live customer feedback.
"This partnership shows that inclusion and business excellence go hand in hand: when people with and without support needs collaborate as a matter of course, it creates quality, reliability, and measurable social impact."– Thomas Wuillemin, Corporate Development & Project Manager at BAND Genossenschaft
"We are delighted about this exciting new partnership, which opens significant growth potential for both parties whilst also enabling us to enter a promising and sustainable new business sector."– Stephan Bitterli, Head of the Carpentry Department at VEBO Genossenschaft
Part of a global ambition
Ingka Group’s goal is to have at least one contracted social enterprise in each of its 31 markets. Following the launch in Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, Poland, Spain, and South Korea are expected to follow. More than 100 Ingka Group employees across more than a dozen markets have already participated in the programme, building the internal capability to identify, evaluate, and onboard social enterprises as long-term supply chain partners. The ambition is not a series of pilots but a permanent shift in how the company sources services globally.
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 IKEA Social Entrepreneurship
KEA Social Entrepreneurship supports and funds programmes, innovation and investment in social entrepreneurs and enterprises in and beyond the IKEA value chain to create positive social impact for people from vulnerable and marginalised groups. It has supported more than 250 enterprises in over 35 countries focusing on inclusive employment, agriculture and food and inclusive circularity.
About Yunus Social Innovation
Yunus Social Innovation is a Europe-based social innovation consultancy. We believe that doing good makes business sense. We partner with corporations, philanthropic entities and social enterprises to make social innovation a key driver of business success. We design and implement strategies that align business success with positive societal and environmental impact. We work with a team of dedicated consultants and change makers, all aligned on making our time on this planet count.
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