Whenever we hear the name IKEA, the first and only thing that pops up in our minds is furniture. Well, that has changed now. Sören Hullberg, a former store manager of IKEA, came up with the concept of having a food department. Ingvar Kamprad, IKEA’s frugal founder, was worried about the fact that “too many customers were shopping with an empty stomach”. What a straight-forward solution, provide food! Sauderite Benji’s post “Ikea’s Meaty Strategy: outstripping furniture shops and restaurants” really led me to look at this concept from a slightly different perspective.

With this concept, the company has created a simple but amazing point of difference for itself. Even though it is not related to its products in any manner, it enhances the customer’s experience as a whole. They have kept it simple, 5 dishes that are easy on the wallet. Not too much choice, not too much confusion. In a highly competitive market, IKEA has shown a unique way gaining a competitive edge over its rivals. Especially with the company’s latest mission to sell over 150 million Swedish meatballs, it is trying to spread its organizational culture, and at the same time, creating a unique selling point for itself.