Ikea Expands Food Division With New Market Items And Talks Of Standalone Eateries

Frequent Ikea shoppers know that the furniture giant offers more than sofas and side tables — the company also provides visitors with a diverse food selection at its restaurants and Swedish Food Markets. Recently, the company has expanded its food offerings with two new product lines: the Sjörapport series and Ikea PS collection.

The Sjörapport series is a line of seafood with salmon, shrimp, and seaweed pearl options. According to the company, the products are sustainably sourced, with the salmon being certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and the shrimp being certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). Additionally, the seaweed pearls are made from kelp, a sustainably harvested kind of algae.

The Ikea PS collection is made for those looking for quick and easy to make food options, including whole grain mixes, instant drinks, and spice mixes. The whole grain mixes are made from oat, wheat, rye, and barely and come in two flavors: whole grains with mushroom and whole grains with spices. The instant drinks, which can be served iced or hot, are claimed to have probiotic benefits and come in three flavors: rooibos and rosehip, matcha and lingonberry, and maté and raspberry. The spice mixes, which are available in wild garlic and lemon and apple and fennel, can be used to marinate meat or spice up sauces or dips.

Swedish meatballs, since its debut in 2015, Fast Company reported. In addition to its meatballs, with options that also cater to vegans and vegetarians, Ikea has added new dessert items, including the "Princess Cake," a light pink treat made of sponge cake with raspberry, vanilla cream, and marzipan, and a chocolate-covered almond cake, which includes marzipan and is topped with caramel chunks.

"I firmly believe there is potential. I hope in a few years our customers will be saying, 'Ikea is a great place to eat — and, by the way, they also sell some furniture,'" La Cour said.