How we work

A person seated on a POÄNG armchair in the middle of a spacious living room with herringbone wooden floors, painted brick walls and sheer white curtains.

One brand, many companies, and many, many people – that’s us in a nutshell. Spread all over the world, we have a passion for home furnishing and an inspiring shared vision: to create a better everyday life for the many people. This, together with our straightforward business idea, shared values, and a culture based on the spirit of togetherness, guides us in everything we do.

To offer a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low, that as many people as possible will be able to afford them.

IKEA business idea

504 IKEA stores in 63 markets

Updated: 28 November 2025

A world map overlaid with yellow circles with region names and numbers.

The first IKEA store opened in 1958 in Älmhult, Sweden.

The latest store to open is IKEA Vitoria-Gasteiz in Spain.

Germany has the most IKEA stores in the world.

The biggest IKEA store is Pasay City, Philippines.

A smiling person walks on a sidewalk carrying a blue FRAKTA bag.

Our year in review

Get a glimpse into Fiscal Year 25 with a selection of facts and figures.

Look back at FY25

Black and white photograph of IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad outside the first IKEA store in Älmhult.

The history of IKEA

IKEA reaches millions of hearts and homes all over the world. And it all began in a small Swedish town in the 1940s.

Discover our story

“IKEA is not the work of one person alone, it is the result of many minds and many souls working together through many years of joy and hard work.”

Ingvar Kamprad
IKEA Founder

More about IKEA culture and values

IKEA co-workers gathered on a large indoor stairway.

Together all over the world

The IKEA Brand unites thousands of co-workers and hundreds of companies with different owners around the world. The retail business is organised in a franchise system with 12 franchisees in 63 markets that – together with the franchisor and other parts of the business – continuously improve and develop the brand.

Being able to offer IKEA products to as many people as possible is a challenge we love. To ensure the long-term growth and development of the IKEA business we use a franchise system.

The IKEA franchise system

Two IKEA co-workers seated looking at product sketches with a side table prototype on the table nearby.

Our integrated value chain

To meet the needs of our customers we have a unique business model and value chain. It includes product development, design, supply, manufacture and sales. And of course, it starts and ends with our customers.

Our value chain is about putting people first, and that starts by listening to people’s needs and dreams.

Breaking down the IKEA value chain