IKEA

IKEA is a furniture and home goods retailer founded by Ingvar Kamprad in Smaland, Sweden, in 1943. Its stores and brand are run through franchises held by Inter IKEA Group, which is based in the Netherlands.

The company designs furniture, kitchens, lighting and household items. Most items ship flat in boxes and customers assemble them at home. Familiar products include the Billy bookcase, the Kallax shelf and the Poang chair.

Large out-of-town stores are laid out as a path through showrooms, with a restaurant and a self-serve warehouse. IKEA also sells online and has opened smaller city stores. Its catalog was printed for decades before ending in 2021. The business also sells food in store restaurants and runs a food market. Many of its products have Swedish names. The company publishes sustainability goals, including moving to renewable and recycled materials in its products.