IKEA plant dog

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Food Service

IKEA Brings Famous Plant Dog to USA, Priced Less Than Meat Hot Dog at Just 70 Cents

IKEA has introduced a new addition to its plant-based menu offerings in the United States with the launch of the Plant Dog. Priced at just seventy cents, this latest food item is set to join a variety of meat-free options already available at IKEA, including Plant Balls, Veggie Balls, and Veggie Dogs. The introduction of the Plant Dog to the US market follows its introduction in Europe, where it has been available since last summer.  Unlike IKEA’s Veggie Dog, which is made with kale, lentils, quinoa, onions, and wheat protein, the Plant Dog has been designed to more closely mimic a traditional hot dog. It utilizes ingredients such as rice protein, apple, and onion, along with seasonings to achieve a smoky flavor. Helene von Reis, …

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IKEA's new SLAGVERK vegan nuggets

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Meat- and Fish Alternatives

IKEA Introduces “SLAGVERK” Vegan Nuggets in Sweden

As part of its reported sustainability targets and commitment to make 50% of canteen food and 80% of retail food plant-based by 2025, IKEA has been increasing its vegan offerings worldwide, from plant balls in Canada to beef-style bowls in Japan, and the more recent PLANT-HOTDOG across Europe. Now the Swedish company is announcing another new product with the wheat-based “SLAGVERK” nuggets. The new product will be available in the Swedish shops of IKEA furniture stores on October 24, 2023, as frozen goods to take away. The nuggets can be stored in the freezer and then prepared quickly and easily in the pan or in the oven. Making vegan options affordable In order to make the healthier and more sustainable alternative available to as many …

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IKEA new plant-based options

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Food Service

IKEA San Francisco Debuts New Plant-Based Dining Options

Following the news that IKEA plans to launch the PLANT HOTDOG, along with its many other plant-based targets, the new San Francisco location is set to feature some exciting plant-based dining options. The three-story store, which opened today, is the first retailer to open as part of a development project from Ingka Centres. It will also serve as the flagship US location for two new dining options – Swedish Bite and Swedish Deli.  Swedish Bite, located on the store’s street level, will offer pre-packaged, refrigerated meals with a focus on sustainable and plant-based options, with items like plant-based lasagna and vegan cinnamon buns along with a variety of hot and cold drinks. IKEA currently only operates one other Swedish Bite store at the Shinjuku location …

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Ikea plant based hot dog

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Retail & E-Commerce

IKEA Discusses the New PLANT HOTDOG and Plant-Based Targets for 2025

In 2020, IKEA announced that 50% of main meals offered in its restaurants would be plant-based, 80% to be non-red meat, and 80% of all packaged food offered to be plant-based by 2025. With this date fast approaching, and in the wake of the newly launched PLANT HOTDOG, we spoke with IKEA’s Tanja Schramm to gain some insights into these targets. The Swedish retail giant says it has seen an increase in the popularity of plant-based options, with the veggie ball in particular accounting for a significant portion of sales. IKEA is also exploring ways to remove or replace dairy in its range to further reduce the climate impact of its food ingredients. IKEA has undertaken an initiative to promote the accessibility and affordability of …

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IKEA Plant Dog

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Food Service

IKEA to Launch Plant-Based Version of Iconic Hot Dog

IKEA shoppers in Europe will soon be able to enjoy plant-based hot dogs that mimic the taste and texture of the chain’s original animal-based version. Made from rice protein, onion, apple, salt, pepper, and smoky seasoning, the hot dogs are said to have a “characteristic sausage flavour”. They also have a casing, which provides the same “snap” and sensory experience as biting into the conventional version. While IKEA already offers a vegan hot dog, it is made from vegetables and is not intended to imitate meat. The new option is described as a modern “evolution” of the original animal-based hot dog, which has been offered for over 40 years. “We have spent much time in the development process to give the best experience for our …

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IKEA works to cut emissions

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Sustainability / Environment

IKEA Expands Plant-Based Range to Cut Emissions, Aims to “Remove or Replace Dairy”

IKEA has published its annual sustainability report, revealing that offering more plant-based foods is an important part of the company’s strategy to cut emissions. The Swedish retailer said it had seen an increase in the popularity of plant-based options, with the veggie ball and plant ball now accounting for 17% of frozen meatball sales — up from 14% in 2021. In the chain’s in-store Swedish Food Markets, the meatballs have increased from 24% to 26% of sales. Meanwhile, IKEA Germany has been experimenting with a new scientifically-backed communication approach for promoting plant-based foods. Following the trial, sales of vegan hot dogs have almost doubled compared to 2019 figures. However, this has been partially attributed to a decrease in price. The changes are part of IKEA’s …

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Ingka Group

© Ingka Group

Food Service

IKEA Store Operator Ingka Group Unveils Plant-Forward Food & Beverage Concept

Ingka Group, which operates hundreds of IKEA stores worldwide, has launched a new food and beverage concept. As reported by Forbes, the concept will be called Saluhall in tribute to traditional Scandinavian market halls. 80% of food served will be plant-based, 60% of vendors will be local, and 40% of food will be Nordic-inspired. All operators will be plastic-free, with no waste sent to landfill. In a first for Ingka, there will be no beef on the menu. Saluhall locations will mostly open at smaller city centre sites rather than larger IKEA-style stores. In fact, IKEA itself has begun opening smaller, more “local” stores. “We are looking to add the concept to our growing number of urban centres and the format is flexible and can …

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Ikea is launching new vegan meatballs in the UK

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Food Service

50% of IKEA Singapore’s Main Meals to Be Plant-Based by 2025

Half of IKEA Singapore’s main meals will be plant-based within three years, the company has revealed. Customers at IKEA restaurants in the country will soon be able to choose from a new, larger range of affordable meat-free options. 100% renewable and recycled by 2030 Among the first to launch will be vegan gyozas on May 15-20. The increase in plant-based launches is part of IKEA’s drive for increased sustainability, which has also seen the Swedish furniture chain increase its use of eco-friendly materials. By 2030, IKEA says its products will use only renewable and recycled materials, claiming it has already achieved this with 73% of items. The company also plans to launch a showroom for second-hand products, and a rewards program for customers who choose …

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Ikea is launching new vegan meatballs in the UK

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Printed Technology

IKEA to Recruit Tech Talents with 3D-Printed Vegan Meatballs

IKEA – the Swedish lifestyle giant – has introduced a curious new recruitment campaign involving 3D printing and its world-famous meatballs. The IKEA interviews will now be given over a plate of never-before-served 3D-printed vegan meatballs. With the goal of finding people with imagination for the job interviews – which will hire 150 people in tech and innovation roles across Europe – candidates will try the experimental plant-based meatballs prepared with a 3D printer. It is all part of the “Taste the Future” recruitment campaign, to find: “down-to-earth data scientists, future architects, cyber guardians, unboxed engineers and common sense-makers.”  Plant-Based at IKEA  The 3D printing technology is part of IKEA’s strategy to explore sustainable food production for the future and part of a larger move …

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IKEA Green Monday

Image: David Yeung LinkedIn

Food & Beverage

IKEA Hong Kong & OmniFoods Launch Celebratory Dish For National Day of Sweden

6th June marks the National Day of Sweden and Swedish homeware icon IKEA has collaborated with Asian plant-based phenomenon OmniFoods to create a special dish to celebrate. The news comes just weeks after IKEA’s collaboration with Tokyo alt meat producer Next Meats Co. in Japan. Available in IKEA Hong Kong for the month of June, the pasta dish includes a breaded OmniPork cutlet shaped like a Dala Horse – the traditional carved, painted wooden horse statues of Sweden. OmniPork – OmniFoods’ signature product – recently saw an international price reduction of up to 22% across the range in a bid to achieve price parity with animal pork. The products have also recently landed in both the UK and Japan. IKEA’s plant-based push As for IKEA, …

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IKEA's plant based curry with Next Meats' signature NEXT Gyudon on top.

IKEA vegan beef bowl ©Next Meats

Products & Launches

Japan’s Next Meats Collaborates With IKEA For “World’s First Plant-Based Japanese Beef Bowl”

Tokyo alt meat producer Next Meats Co. announces it will be taking part in IKEA Japan’s Sustainable Food Fair starting tomorrow May 20th, during which consumers can sample IKEA’s plant-based curry topped with Next Meats’ signature plant-based beef, the NEXT Gyudon. This February, the company became listed on the American OTC Market as NEXT MEATS HOLDINGS, INC (NXMH) after acquiring an American SPAC, paving its path into the American stock market. The company claims that the NEXT Gyudon is the world’s first plant based substitute of the Japanese ‘beef bowl’, a staple dish in the country with many restaurants specialising in this dish alone. The NEXT Gyudon is made from soy without any artificial additives and is said to replicate the texture as well as …

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