IKEA

IKEA is a Swedish multinational conglomerate that sells ready-to-assemble furniture, household goods, and related services. Founded in 1943 by Ingvar Kamprad, it has been the world's largest furniture retailer since 2008. The name is an acronym: Ingvar Kamprad, Elmtaryd (the family farm), and Agunnaryd (Kamprad's hometown in Småland). IKEA is known for its modernist designs, simple interior approach, and immersive shopping experience. Its big-box stores feature decorated room settings where customers interact with products before buying. The ready-to-assemble model keeps costs low, allowing competitive pricing. The operational hub is in Älmhult, Sweden, where product development, design, and global supply chain are managed. In 2015, IKEA opened Hubhult in Malmö, a digital and corporate hub. The brand is owned by Inter IKEA Systems B.V. in the Netherlands, while most stores are run by Ingka Group under franchise. Over 500 stores operate in 60 countries. In fiscal year 2024, IKEA sold €45.1 billion worth of goods, and its website had over 4.6 billion visitors.

IKEA's flat-pack revolution started in 1956 when employee Gillis Lundgren designed the Lövet table by removing its legs to fit in a car. That moment of frustration turned into a global logistics breakthrough. Today the company offers around 12,000 products, from the iconic BILLY bookcase (over 140 million sold since 1979) to the KALLAX shelving unit and MALM bed frame. Each product carries a Swedish name, often a place name or a boy's name, chosen by a dedicated naming team.

Beyond furniture, IKEA runs in-store restaurants serving Swedish meatballs and salmon, a loyalty program called IKEA Family, and a growing suite of services like kitchen planning, assembly through TaskRabbit, and furniture leasing in select markets. The company has also moved into smart home tech with TRÅDFRI lighting and the IKEA Home smart app, and sells solar panels in some countries. Its sustainability push includes a goal to become climate positive by 2030, using only renewable and recycled materials, and a Buy Back & Resell program now active in 27 countries.[edit]