IKEA Expands Global Menu with Local Flavors and Sustainable Dishes

IKEA Expands Global Menu with Local Flavors and Sustainable Dishes

(IN BRIEF) IKEA continues its long-standing commitment to making food an integral part of the store experience, blending Swedish roots with regional flavors at accessible prices. Ingka Group’s Food division, led by Lorena Lourido Gomez, highlights five “local hero” dishes—Belgian mussels, plant-based baby Castella in Japan, customizable cooked breakfasts in the UK and Ireland, Provençal lamb shank in France, and Portugal’s iconic Pastel de Nata. Each offering celebrates cultural identity, supports sustainability (MSC-certified mussels, plant-based options), and reinforces IKEA’s mission to enrich everyday life. Ingka Group, operating IKEA retail in 31 markets, underpins these efforts as the brand’s largest franchisee.

(PRESS RELEASE) LEIDEN, 13-Jul-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Since Ingvar Kamprad first opened IKEA’s inaugural restaurant in Älmhult in 1960, food has been a cornerstone of the IKEA experience—because, as he famously noted, “It’s tough to do business with hungry stomachs.” Today, shoppers from Stockholm to Shanghai flock not only for our iconic Swedish meatballs but also for locally inspired dishes that honor regional tastes without compromising affordability.

At IKEA, we believe that mealtime is more than nourishment; it’s a way to connect, create memories, and feel at home. That’s why, alongside our classic offerings, we design menus that resonate with each community’s culinary heritage. By integrating local ingredients and traditional recipes into our global brand, we support IKEA’s vision of enhancing everyday life for the many people—whether they’re browsing home furnishings or sharing a meal with family and friends.

“A shared meal bonds people in ways that last forever,” says Lorena Lourido Gomez, IKEA Food Manager at Ingka Group. “By serving affordable, planet-friendly dishes rooted in our Swedish origins yet infused with local spirit, we demonstrate our commitment to what matters most in people’s daily lives.”

Below are five standout local dishes across the Ingka Group:

• Belgium: Sustainable Mussels
  Available for just ten weeks each year, our Belgian mussels deliver a touch of indulgence at an everyday price—and with minimal environmental impact. Mussels rank among the lowest-carbon proteins, and at IKEA every component is repurposed: biodegradable sugar-cane pots cradle the shellfish, and spent shells are ground for oyster farming. MSC certification and simple, ready-to-serve preparation make this a genuine win for taste and sustainability.
• Japan: Plant-Based Baby Castella
  A summer-festival staple, baby Castella evokes childhood nostalgia. Our entirely plant-based version modernizes this fluffy sponge cake without sacrificing flavor—and at just ¥20 per piece, it’s more accessible than ever. It’s a taste of tradition reinvented for tomorrow.
• UK & Ireland: Customizable Cooked Breakfast
  Celebrating a centuries-old tradition, IKEA’s “Cooked Breakfast” offers six- or nine-item options featuring bacon, sausage, omelette, hash browns, tomatoes, and baked beans. Vegetarian and extra-item alternatives ensure everyone starts the day right. In 2024, over 3.5 million servings fueled mornings across our UK and Irish stores.
• France: Provençal Lamb Shank
  Once a humble home-cooking staple in southern France, the lamb shank (Jarret d’Agneau) transforms through slow cooking, local herbs like thyme and garlic, and a rich jus. Served with fries, it blends rustic Provençal flair with contemporary comfort.
• Portugal: Pastel de Nata & Coffee Combo
  Hailing from Lisbon’s monastery kitchens, the Pastel de Nata is more than a dessert—it’s Portuguese heritage in a flaky, creamy tart. We relocated an entire baking machine from Barcelona to perfect our recipe and now pair each tart with coffee for just €0.90—a small price for a genuine taste of tradition.

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 Contact:

Tel: +46 70 993 6376
email: press.office@ingka.com

SOURCE: Ingka Holding B.V