Swedish buffet on the menu at IKEA Canada

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At a time when Canadians are feeling the squeeze from rising grocery bills and dining out costs, IKEA Canada continues to prioritize value, offering warm, hearty meals at prices that feel like the good old days.

Whether it’s their $5.99 breakfasts (a plate loaded with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, home fries, and pancakes), Swedish Thursdays, offering 50% off meals, or newly expanded plant-based options, IKEA Canada’s food menu is proof that affordability doesn’t have to come at the expense of quality or taste. And now, just in time for summer, they’re adding something special to the mix: A full Swedish Midsummer Buffet for only $24.99 – a three-course celebration with salmon, meatballs, desserts and more.

These offerings reflect IKEA Canada’s broader mission to support Canadians through accessible pricing, both on the showroom floor and in the restaurant, explained the company.

Elena Pozueta Larios
Elena Pozueta Larios

“For IKEA, being affordable for the many people remains our absolute priority — especially in
times of economic uncertainty and rising living costs. IKEA Canada is committed to supporting
our customers during this period of higher food inflation. Despite rising costs, we have
consciously absorbed these increases to ensure we continue to serve the many. Our goal is to
offer affordable meals and remain accessible to those with tighter budgets by providing full meals
at very reasonable prices,” said Elena Pozueta Larios, Head of IKEA Food, IKEA Canada.

“At IKEA, we have always prioritized creating an overall experience that is a fun day out for the entire family and we know that food is the gateway to people’s hearts. By offering relevant and enticing food options in our stores, we drive traffic with irresistible deals and very low prices. This
not only brings customers into our stores but also enhances brand awareness by tapping into our
Swedish identity. When the time comes for a consumer to make a purchase, they will remember
IKEA.”

Larios said IKEA aims to inspire and enable the many people to move towards healthy and sustainable lifestyles by offering affordable, attractive, and accessible home furnishing products and food that support
a healthy and sustainable life at home.

Photo: IKEA
Photo: IKEA

“Our plant-based options have been warmly received by our Canadian customers. Our recent and newest addition, the plant-based nugget, has been a particularly popular addition in our Swedish Bistros. Additionally, the vegetable rice dish—our most affordable offering in the Swedish Restaurant—has achieved remarkable success in its first four weeks, with demand tripling our initial projections. Canada is the top second country in the world across IKEA for selling the Plant balls in our Swedish Food market.

“The IKEA Swedish Midsummer experience is happening across all IKEA stores in Canada, with
the exception of our extra small format stores in downtown Toronto and Scarborough Town
Centre.

“We are planning to revitalize the shopping experience in our Swedish Restaurants by introducing
a digital buying process. This innovation will reduce waiting times and enhance the overall dining
experience at IKEA. By embracing this added digital customer journey, we aim to connect with
newer generations, build brand awareness, and foster trust in our brand. We are aiming to set up
this new process within our next fiscal year.”

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Mario Toneguzzi
Mario Toneguzzi
Mario Toneguzzi, based in Calgary, has more than 40 years experience as a daily newspaper writer, columnist, and editor. He worked for 35 years at the Calgary Herald covering sports, crime, politics, health, faith, city and breaking news, and business. He is the Co-Editor-in-Chief with Retail Insider in addition to working as a freelance writer and consultant in communications and media relations/training. Mario was named as a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert in 2024.

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