1. 1. When was IKEA founded and where does the name IKEA come from?

IKEA was founded in 1943. The name is made up from the initials of our founder, Ingvar Kamprad and the first letters of the farm Elmtaryd and the village Agunnaryd in rural southern Sweden where he grew up. Ingvar Kamprad was just 17 when he registered the IKEA name. To read more, please visit IKEA history.

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2. Who owns the IKEA concept?

IKEA retailing, with its Swedish roots, is based on a franchise system. Inter IKEA Systems B.V., located in Delft, The Netherlands, is the owner and franchisor of the IKEA Concept. IKEA stores are operated by a number of different franchisees in 29 countries.

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3. Can I distribute IKEA products?

Inter IKEA Systems B.V., in the Netherlands, is the owner of the IKEA concept and trademark. It has franchise agreements with every IKEA store in the world. The IKEA Group is the biggest franchisee. To read more, please visit About the IKEA Group.

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4. What is the IKEA Group?

The IKEA Group consists of a number of companies, from the Swedwood industrial group to the sales companies that own individual stores. The IKEA Group develops, buys, distributes and sells IKEA products. The IKEA Group is owned by the Stichting INGKA Foundation, which is registered in the Netherlands. To read more, please visit About the IKEA Group.

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5. Why is the IKEA Group owned by a foundation?

The founder of IKEA, Ingvar Kamprad, wanted to create an ownership structure and organisation that stands for long-term independence and security. That's why the Stichting INGKA Foundation was set up in 1982 and the IKEA Group we know today was conceived. To read more, please visit About the IKEA Group.

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6. What is IKEA's vision and business idea?

Our vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people. Our business idea is to offer a wide range of well-designed, functional, home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible can afford them. To read more, please visit Our vision and business idea.

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7. How can I find out about job opportunities within IKEA?

For current open positions or for more information about working at an IKEA Group store or an IKEA Group unit, please visit your local country site or visit the international jobs site.

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8. How many IKEA Group stores are there and where will new stores open?

For an updated list please visit IKEA Group stores, or visit your local country site.

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9. Where does IKEA purchase its products from?

IKEA has more than 1,350 suppliers in 50 countries. All products have the label 'Design & Quality. IKEA of Sweden' and the country of origin. IKEA purchases the majority of its products from Europe (64%), followed by Asia (33%) and North America (3%). To read more, please visit Facts & figures.

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10. How do I get the IKEA Group annual report?

The IKEA Group is not a publicly listed company and therefore does not issue an annual report. All available annual figures and our latest Facts & Figures brochure about the IKEA Group can be found at Facts & Figures.

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11. How can I become a franchisee?

IKEA products are sold solely in stores operating the IKEA Retail System--franchised by Inter IKEA Systems B.V. of The Netherlands.

Inter IKEA Systems B.V., the owner and world-wide franchisor of the IKEA Concept, aims to bring IKEA products to as many people as possible by franchising the IKEA Concept to IKEA Franchisees. Inter IKEA Systems B.V. constantly seeks market expansion, and grants new franchises to markets/territories according to a detailed expansion plan.

Franchises are granted only to organisations and/or individuals that can secure a strong market position and market penetration in the given territory. Franchises are only granted to organisations and/or individuals that have extensive retail experience and solid local market knowledge. Opening an IKEA franchise requires considerable investment by the IKEA franchisee.

Further information can be obtained by writing to Inter IKEA Systems B.V.:

Attention: Franchising
Inter IKEA Systems B.V.
Olof Palmestraat 1
NL 2616 LN Delft
The Netherlands

Fax: +31 15 215 38 38

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1. How can I find out more about the IKEA Group's social and environmental responsibility work?

To read more about the IKEA Group's social and environmental responsibility projects and activities, please visit Our responsibility, or Read our materials. Here you will find the IKEA Group's current and previous social and environmental reports, as well as information on how IKEA works with these issues.

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2. How does the IKEA Group approach social and environmental issues?

IKEA's low prices must never be achieved at the expense of people or the environment. That is a condition for doing good business. Our customers must always feel that the products they buy are safe to use. IKEA products must be manufactured under acceptable working conditions by suppliers who take responsibility for the environment. We do not accept child labour. The IKEA Group supports sustainable forestry and our long-term goal is to source all wood in the IKEA range from forests certified as responsibly managed. We work actively to reduce IKEA's impact on the climate change. To read more, please visit Our responsibility.

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3. What is IWAY?

"IWAY" stands for The IKEA Way on Purchasing Home Furnishing Products. It is IKEA's code of conduct that specifies the minimum requirements concerning protection of the environment, working conditions and child labour that we place on suppliers and describes what they can expect from us in return. IKEA has supplemented IWAY with a specific code of conduct for child labour - The IKEA Way on Preventing Child Labour. Other code of conducts: The IKEA Way on Distributing Home Furnishing Products and The IKEA Way on Purchasing Food. To read more, please visit Child labour, Forestry, Working conditions, Read our materials.

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4. What is the IKEA Group's position regarding child labour?

IKEA does not tolerate child labour and works actively to prevent it. All IKEA suppliers and their sub-contractors must comply with our code of conduct, The IKEA Way on Preventing Child Labour. We work actively to prevent child labour, and have strict agreements in IKEA does not accept child labour and works actively against it. The complexity of the child-labour issue requires input and influences from many parties. By cooperating closely with international organisations such as UNICEF and Save the Children, IKEA strives to improve children's rights and to tackle the root causes of child labour. All IKEA suppliers and subcontractors must comply with our code of conduct, The IKEA Way on Preventing Child Labour. Monitoring of the compliance to IKEA requirements is carried out by IKEA and includes unannounced visits by third-party auditors. To read more, please visit Child labour, Partnerships.

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5. What is the IKEA Group's position on forestry?

IKEA believes wood is an excellent material from both a functional and environmental point of view. For wood to be a good environmental choice, it should originate from responsibly managed forests. IKEA's long-term goal is to source all wood in the IKEA range from forests certified as responsibly managed. We work actively with WWF and other partners to increase the availability of certified wood. Our suppliers must provide documentation to show where the wood comes from. IKEA conducts select audits, and IKEA´s foresters trace the wood from the supplier back to the forest in order to check that IKEA requirements are met. For external verification of auditing routines, IKEA works with the third-party organisation Smartwood. To read more, please visit Forestry.

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6. Where does the IKEA Group's stand when it comes to charity and sponsorship?

The IKEA Group has decided to concentrate its efforts on active partnerships rather than simply making charitable donations and undertaking sponsorships. These are primarily social projects targetting the needs of children, for which we work closely with our partners UNICEF and Save the Children. IKEA also concentrates its efforts on environmental projects, conducted in co-operation with WWF. IKEA sponsorship of local projects, educational needs and events, is arranged by individual stores. For more information please contact your local store via IKEA country sites.

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1. What settings or software do I need on my computer to view the IKEA site?

The IKEA site works with all commonly used browsers, on both PC and Mac platforms. For optimal viewing, we recommend at least Netscape Navigator 4.0 or IE 5.0 and at least 800x600 pixels (possible flash plug in higher than 4.0).

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2. Can I purchase IKEA products on the web?

Only Sweden and Denmark currently sell products online. In the future, the ambition is to roll out this e-commerce platform to additional countries.

Note that we already have a mail order system in place in certain countries. In select locations, it is now possible to order via email as well. Check your local IKEA site for details.

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3. What information is collected about me when I visit the site?

We do not require any information to obtain access to any part of our site, unless specifically stated. We may ask for specific information in order to provide a service to you, such as sending you a catalogue. Information requested may include name, title, company, address, e-mail address, and phone number.

We do anonymously track traffic patterns using cookies, in order to measure site performance and make improvements. Cookies are small pieces of information stored on your computer that are read by the browser. These cookies will be automatically deleted after you leave the site.

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4. Can I find all IKEA products on this site?

This site features hundreds of IKEA products as a way of demonstrating the breadth and depth of our product range; however, this is only a small portion of IKEA’s complete product range. Each store carries a much larger selection. Be sure to visit your local IKEA store for a look at our full selection.

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