IKEA Talents 2025 Celebrates Global Creativity With Malaysian Team Taking Top Honour

IKEA Talents 2025 Celebrates Global Creativity With Malaysian Team Taking Top Honour

(IN BRIEF) IKEA Talents 2025 brought co-workers from around the world to Älmhult, Sweden, for a global food competition aligned with IKEA’s Cooking & Eating focus, culminating in a win for Fatin Badrul Hisham and Nurul Fatihah Binti Rosli from IKEA Malaysia with their Stuffed Fried Tofu dish. The 90-minute live cook-off featured six international finalists showcasing their creativity, cultural heritage, and culinary skills before a jury and fellow colleagues, reinforcing IKEA’s belief that everyone has talent beyond their formal roles. Senior leaders from Ingka Group highlighted how IKEA Talents strengthens culture, builds confidence, and fosters innovation, while also demonstrating how food can connect people across borders through shared flavours, sustainability, and affordability. The initiative further strengthened collaboration, belonging, and creative experimentation across IKEA’s global workforce.

(PRESS RELEASE) ÄLMHULT, 5-Feb-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — IKEA Talents once again gathered co-workers from across the world in Älmhult, Sweden – the birthplace of IKEA – to celebrate creativity, collaboration, and cultural expression through food. On 4 February, the global IKEA Talents food contest concluded with Fatin Badrul Hisham and Nurul Fatihah Binti Rosli from IKEA Malaysia emerging as winners for their dish Stuffed Fried Tofu, marking a memorable moment for the international IKEA community.

The 2025 edition of IKEA Talents followed last year’s music-focused challenge and was aligned with IKEA’s current commercial emphasis on Cooking & Eating. Co-workers from different markets were invited to showcase their favourite recipes, blending personal heritage, culinary skills, and storytelling into their entries. The initiative reinforced IKEA’s belief that creativity extends beyond formal job roles and that every co-worker has the potential to contribute in meaningful and unexpected ways.

The final cook-off took place over 90 minutes in Älmhult, where six international finalists worked side by side at individual cooking stations in a dynamic, high-energy environment. They prepared their dishes live in front of a jury and a supportive audience of fellow IKEA colleagues, turning the event into both a competition and a shared cultural experience.

Alejandra Pinol, Chief People & Culture Officer at Ingka Group, highlighted the broader significance of IKEA Talents, noting that initiatives like this empower co-workers to develop their ideas, build confidence, and grow personally and professionally. She emphasised that fostering such opportunities strengthens IKEA’s culture while ultimately benefiting customers and the wider organisation.

Reflecting on their win, Fatin and Fatihah expressed surprise and gratitude, attributing part of their success to adapting their sambal soy sauce to suit the jury’s preferences. They also shared how meaningful it was to see their tofu dish withstand the journey from Malaysia to Sweden, making the victory even more special.

Tine Colpaert, Food Operations Leader at Ingka Group IKEA Retail, described the competition as a powerful demonstration of how food can serve as a platform for innovation and connection. She praised all finalists for not only preparing high-quality dishes but also embodying IKEA’s food philosophy through creativity, sustainability, and affordability. Colpaert emphasised that thoughtfully prepared food can transcend cultural boundaries, fostering belonging and bringing people together through shared experiences.

Food has long been central to the IKEA experience, shaping both the beginning and end of many customer visits. Through IKEA Talents, food becomes more than nourishment – it becomes a medium for self-expression, storytelling, and cultural exchange among co-workers.

The initiative also reinforces IKEA’s broader workplace values by encouraging individuality, experimentation, and learning. By bringing together colleagues from different roles and countries, IKEA Talents strengthens collaboration, nurtures a sense of belonging, and supports creative thinking that feeds into everyday business operations.

The six finalists who competed in the final round represented a diverse range of countries and culinary traditions:

• Malaysia: Fatin Badrul Hisham and Nurul Fatihah Binti Rosli with Stir Fried Tofu
• Italy: Benedetta Orsini with Sweden in a plin
• France: Abigaëlle Dumont with Sweet and savoury millefeuille
• Spain: Juan Diego Rodríguez and Sophía Daniella Rattín with Lume & Lagom
• Portugal: Pedro Garcia with IKEA Style Swedish Lasagna
• Poland: Michał Peplak with Stir-fry udon noodles with IKEA plant balls

About IKEA Talents

IKEA Talents is a global IKEA co-worker engagement initiative celebrating IKEA culture, values, and creativity. First launched in 2024 with a global music challenge, it has become one of the largest internal talent competitions across IKEA, connecting co-workers around the world through shared passions and experiences.

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.

Media Contact:

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

SOURCE: IKEA