Ikea confirms the rumors are true: there will be price changes worldwide

At a time when people are looking to save more than ever, some companies are trying to adapt to this new scenario. Prices are rising in many sectors and the family budget is getting tighter and tighter. The expectation of changes in the prices of products and services is becoming a key issue for millions of people.

Ikea has decided to take an important step to address these concerns. The Swedish company confirmed that they will apply significant discounts to the prices of their restaurants worldwide. The news points to some relief for their customers' wallets, who are facing price increases in food both at home and in restaurants.

Global discounts and free meals for children

Ikea announced that they will reduce the prices of their restaurant menus by up to 50%. The goal is to help consumers in a context of high living costs and a lot of economic uncertainty. "We want to allow more people to enjoy our restaurant offering," explained Tolga Öncü, COO of Ikea Retail to CNBC.

In addition to these discounts, Ikea will offer free meals for children in many of their restaurants. Although not all locations or the exact start date have been defined yet, this is an ambitious measure. The company emphasizes that they seek to keep the lowest possible prices for their customers in difficult times.

According to the company, the focus on food is essential to their business proposal. Ikea has been investing for some time to offer more affordable and healthier options. In Öncü's words, "ensuring the lowest possible price for our products is always our most important goal."

A global effort in the face of inflation and tariffs

The context is not easy for Ikea or for other retailers, as food prices have risen faster than overall inflation. In the United States, for example, the consumer price index for food rose by 0.2% from April to May and was 2.4% higher than in May 2024. Eating at a restaurant was 3.8% more expensive in May this year compared to the same month last year, according to a report from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Many supermarkets and large chains have already raised prices or plan to do so due to import tariffs. Ikea also suffers from these costs, although Öncü said that they managed to "absorb part and not pass it on completely to customers in the US." In 2024, Ikea reduced their wholesale prices by 15%, which cost them about 2.1 billion euros.

Beyond the changes in their restaurant prices, Ikea is continuing with their growth plans. The company plans to open 58 new stores worldwide before August 2025. This year, they have already opened five new locations and plan six more before the end of 2025, and they will also add two more in 2026, consolidating their global expansion.

In the United States, Ikea has about 50 stores and plans to continue investing in new formats. One of them is the Plan and Order point store, a smaller concept with design advice where orders are for home delivery or pickup at specific points. In addition, Ikea has already announced an investment of 2.2 billion dollars in the United States over the next three years.