After sparking global curiosity on 1 April with a playful announcement about a meatball-tasting lollipop, Ingka Group, the largest IKEA retailer operating in 32 countries, and Chupa Chups, one of the world’s most iconic lollipop brands, are turning the joke into sweet reality. The two companies have joined forces to serve a limited-edition, meatball-inspired lollipop this June in hundreds of IKEA stores around the world.
Chupa Chups has been busy in the kitchen developing a playful sweet that’s inspired by the flavours and feeling of the iconic Swedish meatball and its lingonberry companion. The lollipop captures the spirit of IKEA food in a new and surprising way.
Javier Quiñones, Commercial Manager at Ingka Group
“On 1 April, we invited people to imagine a meatball lollipop. And we couldn’t help but take it one step further – especially after the enthusiastic response. Together with Chupa Chups, we are now bringing a playful take of that idea to life. It is a fun way to celebrate our love of food, and to show that even a simple joke can turn into something real, bringing people in surprising ways.”
In total, one million lollipops will be produced and distributed to IKEA stores around the world. However, there’s bad news for those hoping to stock up on these delightful sweets because the lollipops will not be for sale. Instead, customers will have the chance to taste them for free while visiting IKEA stores this June.
The collaboration fits in perfectly with the IKEA focus on Cooking & Eating, where all year long the company is highlighting how food plays a key role in creating joyful, shared moments in everyday life. In fact, a recently published IKEA study shows that despite constantly changing food trends, people are still looking for small, sweet moments of joy in their everyday lives. Nearly half of us (46%) admit to having a sweet tooth.
At the same time, 29% of people enjoy exploring new foods and cuisines, while 40% say they are especially drawn to foods that are tied to childhood memories and nostalgia. The Chupa Chups collaboration taps into these feelings: it offers something playful and new, while also evoking the familiar, comforting taste of a classic lollipop. By teaming up with Chupa Chups, IKEA wants to satisfy people’s sweet tooth with a touch of humour and curiosity, and to spark both discovery and nostalgia in the everyday.
“When IKEA invited us to explore a lollipop inspired by their iconic Swedish meatball, we were immediately intrigued. At Chupa Chups, we are always looking for new ways to surprise and delight people – it’s part of our ‘Forever Fun’ spirit. This limited-edition lollipop is our playful tribute to a flavour that people all over the world associate with IKEA, reimagined in a way only Chupa Chups can do,” said Martin Hofling, Global Marketing Manager, Chupa Chups.
Customers can check with their local IKEA store and follow local IKEA social media channels for more information about tasting moments.
*The lollipops will not be available in Sweden, Japan, India, Serbia, Croatia, Romania, and Slovenia.
*This special lollipop is not an IKEA product, but the result of a creative collaboration between IKEA and Chupa Chups.
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 recognised 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.
Media enquiries
For further information, journalists and media professionals can contact us at [email protected] or by calling +46 70 993 6376.
