Most people associate IKEA with home furnishing products, but IKEA is also one of the world’s largest food providers. Every year, around 700 million customers eat at IKEA’s restaurants and bistros, or buy food in the IKEA Swedish Food Markets to enjoy at home. This gives the company a unique opportunity to inspire customers towards more sustainable food choices.
The Challenges
Food ingredients account for around four percent of the total IKEA climate footprint, and by 2030, IKEA has committed to reduce absolute GHG emissions from food ingredients by at least 50% compared to baseline FY16 — in line with the overall ambition to become net-zero by 2050. IKEA has been working towards an internal goal of making 50% of the main meals offered plant-based by 2025.
Signs indicate the market is ready for this change. Research conducted by IKEA and GlobeScan in 2023 found that 41% of meat-eaters said they would switch to plant-based alternatives if they tasted as good and weren’t more expensive. People are also becoming more aware of the impact their food choices have on the environment — and are looking for lower-impact alternatives to their favorite foods.
The Solutions
To this end, IKEA has improved and expanded their plant-based food selection. They introduced a plant ball that replicates the sensory experience of their iconic traditional meatball, with a focus on taste and texture that appeals to meat-eaters and vegetarians alike. The plant ball is primarily made from pea protein, which helps mimic the texture and protein content of meat. Today, the plant ball is available in 55 out of 62 IKEA markets, with the aim to make it accessible in all markets.
IKEA has also introduced a plant-based version of their hot dog, which has been a nostalgic part of the IKEA shopping experience for over 40 years. The plant-based hot dog was well received by customers in 14 of IKEA’s markets across Europe, where it launched in 2023, and has since expanded to markets in Australia and the United States in 2024.
Since price is an important aspect of how people make choices, IKEA offers plant-based alternatives at the same or lower price than their animal-protein counterparts in more than 30 markets. This makes it more accessible and affordable for customers to make a healthier and more sustainable choice.
Some IKEA markets have taken additional steps to grow their share of plant-based sales. IKEA Japan, for example, provided education to employees on the health and environmental benefits of plant-based foods, and worked with suppliers to develop plant-based dishes inspired by local food culture.
The Results
In FY24, over 36% of the main meals offered in restaurants at IKEA stores operated by the largest franchisee, Ingka Group, were plant-based — up from around 30% in FY23. And since launching the plant-ball in 2020, IKEA has seen demand increase consistently 1% year-over-year, while meatball performance has slowed. FY25 marked a pivotal milestone: the first–ever recorded decline in meatball share.
While there’s more progress to be made, IKEA is setting an example for retail food service, proving that it’s possible to provide an excellent dining experience without compromising on taste or sustainability. IKEA sells around 1 billion meatballs a year, so converting even some of them into plant balls will make a real difference.