IKEA reaches millions of hearts and homes all over the world every day. The Swedish home furnishing retailer knows that to create a better everyday life for the many people, it is important to adapt to the changing consumer habit. Starting today, customers will be able to enjoy the much-awaited plant balls across all IKEA stores in the UAE. It has the look, taste and juicy bite of the IKEA meatball but does not contain any animal protein or ingredients and is only 4% of the climate footprint.
Made with pea protein, potatoes, onion, oats and apple, the perfect taste is achieved by adding umami flavours, like mushroom, tomato and a powder from roasted vegetables. Whether you are a meat lover or not, the plant ball is more sustainable than red meat and can help reduce your carbon footprint by 73%.
Commenting on the launch, Vinod Jayan, Managing Director – IKEA UAE, Egypt and Oman said, ‘’Today, consumers have become more aware of what they eat. People seek fresh products, which are natural, organic and minimally processed. The sustainability trend we witness in retail and manufacturing spreads to the food industry as well. Now, more than ever, we need to place the well-being of both people and the environment at the heart of our business.’’
The meatballs have been in the food range since 1950 and is considered an iconic product. With 60 years of success, the meatballs have not only been a mouth-watering dish but also great value for money for IKEAlovers.
‘At IKEA, we are committed to becoming climate positive by 2030.We sell one billion meatballs year. Imagine if we can convert even some of those into plant balls. That’s a real tangible difference in our climate footprint. We hope this new plant-based meatball will inspire IKEA meatball lovers to embrace a more sustainable alternative without having to compromise on taste or texture,’’ he added.
The plant ball is a great alternative for everyone who wants to cut down on meat without losing out on the experience. It is now available in the IKEA Restaurant for dine in and at the Swedish food market for people to take home and enjoy with family and friends across all stores in the UAE.
