Think you know IKEA? Think again. This time, we’re turning up the heat on our eating areas. Chances are you’re already familiar with our restaurants and bistros. But here’s some food for thought before your next visit.
Feeding the half billion
With a food offer in more than 400 locations across the world touching the lives of over 665 million people each year, IKEA is a popular place to eat – on a global scale. According to various media outlets, we’ve been estimated as the 10th largest food seller outside the USA, the world’s 6th largest food chain, and many things in between. With 90% of all visitors at physical IKEA customer meeting points interacting with an IKEA Food co-worker, food is 100% part of our bread and butter.
A place for eats and meets
In case there was any doubt, our research proves it: people love coming together over food. While the latest IKEA Life at Home Report described a polarised world where 36% of us feel concern over household finances, it also revealed that spending time with others and social eating are powerful drivers of enjoyment. Ingka Centres’ Life in Communities Report also found that for more than 1 in 3 of us, an ideal meeting place should provide access to great food and drink. Two great reasons to hook up with family and friends over an affordable meal at IKEA.
Battering the competition on affordability
Our new store in the heart of London’s Oxford Street is eye-catching in more ways than one: the iconic location, interior design solutions showcasing the style and diversity of Londoners, a studio space for live interactive experiences. But it’s also fast becoming synonymous with one of the UK’s favourite meals: fish and chips. Despite an overall 52% price increase of this treasured dish nationwide between 2019 and 2024, we dug our heels in and kept the price low. The result? A dine-in meal of haddock and chips at IKEA Oxford Street cost just £6.95 when we opened the store on May 1st this year – less than half the average price for London. Nothing fishy about that.
Peas of mind
It’s estimated that at least one third of all food the world produces never gets eaten. But at IKEA, we’re doing our bit to help turn the tide. Did you know that we check and track the portion sizes we serve our customers to help cut back on food waste? By the end of the last fiscal year, IKEA Retail had saved over 37 million meals since 2016 and cut food production/pre-consumer food waste by 60.5%. When it comes to food, there’s simply no time to waste. And we’re making every pea count.
Balls or biryani?
Thought our food menu was all balls, dogs, cinnamon buns, and ice cream? Well, yes – but not only. Depending on where you are in the world, the IKEA customer restaurant might also serve up a regional speciality or two. How about feasting on fattoush in the United Arab Emirates, mussels in Belgium, or biryani in India? Or polishing off a sweet pastel de nata in Portugal, baby castella in Japan, or yuzu sorbet in China? Warning: it still might not stop you fancying a hot dog on the way out though.
Anything else you’d like to know?
At IKEA, we have so many stories to tell. But many of them stay right here, within IKEA. That’s where our “Who knew?” series comes in. Is there anything you’ve always wondered about IKEA but never had the chance to ask? Contact us at [email protected] and we’ll get digging.
About Ingka Group
With IKEA retail operations in 31 markets, Ingka Group is the largest IKEA retailer and represents about 90% 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 www.Ingka.com
Media enquiries
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