Regular
readers of this blog know that Ikea sell
over $ 2 Billion dollars in grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared
food at its ‘Scandinavian furniture’ store.
However, more and more Ikea is mentioned as consumers favorite ‘restaurant’
according to recent Grocerant
ScoreCards according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at
Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.
Today,
Ikea shoppers
seek out the furniture store for its inexpensive Chairs, Couches and Candles,
but the chain has become a cult-favorite dining destination thanks largely to
its Swedish meatballs. Unfortunately for vegetarians, the meatballs contain, well, meat.
But veggie eaters are in luck; Ikea has announced it’s working on a plant-basedversion of their signature menu item. Now, if Ikea can evolve why can’t you?
“I
am looking forward to serving a delicious plant-based meatball made from
alternative protein at IKEA,”, said in a press release. “I hope that the many meatball lovers out
there will like it as well.”
Michael
LaCour, managing director at Ikea Food Services stated Ikea’s Swedish meatballs, served in the store’s cafeteria-style
restaurants, have been a favorite for 35 years. But the meatball family has expanded
over the years. The plant-based menu item will be the fifth variety. Ikea currently
offers veggie balls, chicken meatballs and salmon meatballs alongside the original recipe. Think
about it and all are offered instore Ready-2-Eat or packaged for take-home and
are Heat-N-Eat.
LaCour
continued pointing out that “While veggie balls are already available, the new
alternative-protein meatball should be notably different. The company notes
that the new item will look and taste like real meat. Ikea hopes to serve the
new meatball globally in all its restaurants, and plans to test it with
customers early in 2020.”
Foodservice Solutions® specializes in
outsourced business development. We can help you identify, quantify and qualify
additional food retail segment opportunities or a new menu product segment and
brand and menu integration strategy. Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma WA is the global leader in the Grocerant niche
visit Facebook.com/Steven Johnson, Linkedin.com/in/grocerant/ or twitter.com/grocerant
No comments:
Post a Comment