Many people love Ikea’s unique and affordable food offerings, like their famous Swedish meatballs and cinnamon rolls, but these items are only available in-store. This limits access for customers who don’t want to make a trip to an Ikea warehouse just for food—especially those in urban areas. There’s an opportunity here to make these beloved foods more accessible while creating a new revenue stream.

The Idea: Bringing Ikea’s Food to Your Doorstep

One way to solve this problem could be offering Ikea’s food for delivery, either through third-party apps like Uber Eats or a dedicated Ikea food delivery service. Starting with a small, curated menu of popular items (such as meatballs, salmon dishes, and desserts) could simplify logistics. Over time, the service could expand to include meal kits (pre-portioned ingredients for making Ikea recipes at home) or even a subscription model for regular deliveries of Swedish treats.

• For Ikea: A new revenue channel without requiring more in-store traffic.
• For customers: Convenience—no need to visit a store just for food.
• For delivery platforms: More variety in their offerings.

How It Could Work: Phased Execution

A pilot program could start in a few high-traffic urban areas, partnering with existing delivery services to minimize upfront costs. Insulated packaging could help maintain food quality during transit, starting with items that travel well (like frozen meatballs or baked goods). As demand grows, Ikea could introduce more complex delivery-friendly dishes or even its own fleet for better quality control. Customer feedback could help refine the model over time.

This approach builds on Ikea’s existing strengths—strong brand loyalty and distinctive food offerings—while solving a real inconvenience for customers. It’s an expansion that feels natural, much like how supermarkets now offer prepared meals alongside their traditional products.