IKEA Philippines planned to buy the food ingredients from Filipino farmers for its restaurant in IKEA upcoming store scheduled to be opened in 2020.

Once complete, IKEA Pasay will be IKEA’s first store in the Philippines, envisioned to be the world’s largest IKEA’s store located at the SM Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City with 65,000 square meters, roughly the size of 150 basketball courts.

According to GMA News Online on June 6, Southeast Asia Market Development Manager Georg Platze told GMA News that:
“I can confirm that we are sourcing (local) food for our future restaurant in the IKEA Pasay City store.”

IKEA earlier said that it has been looking for partners in food supply to assured that the customers, who favored Scandinavians foods especially its famous meatballs, will experience the foods made from locally-sourced ingredients.

“We are in talks with local farmers and we will continue to do so.

“Sourcing locally has many advantages, to mention some: shorter lead time, freshness, local and seasonal relevance, less CO2 emissions, and of course, supports the local farm industry,” Platzer told GMA News.

IKEA Pasay store will feature 9,000 products including a warehouse, an e-commerce facility and an integrated call center. For an official opening day, IKEA will employ around 500 Filipinos and hundreds more in spin-off jobs to support its operation.

Source: GMA News Online