This new space will be called Saluhall. It is a new way to bring the food offered by Ikea to vegetarians and vegans. Ingka Group, the parent company of the international furniture store chain IKEA, has created this unique gastronomic idea. It should also be noted that it is based on Nordic culture and street food, with a menu in which 80% of the dishes are free of meat and animal cruelty.
The Ikea chain was, in fact, one of the first businesses of this style to incorporate meat-free options into its menus. Although most restaurants, bars, cafeterias, and fast food chains forget and leave aside vegan consumers, the truth is that they do exist, and there are more and more of them. There is no point in excluding them from menus or with poor options such as cooked vegetables or salads. In this way, you are only wasting a good market opportunity.
What is Saluhall, Ikea’s new vegan option?
This new initiative is, of course, part of the sustainability commitments that Ikea recently adopted. In this way, it seeks to obtain within a few years a menu option that is 50% meat-free. Within these commitments, 80% of its packaged food is also expected to be suitable for vegans. This way, Saluhall will be a space that respects the environment, animals, and all those who do not wish to add meat or animal derivatives to their diets.
It is expected, in fact, that over time the figure of 80% will rise to 100%, but it is a goal that still needs to be achieved. It is well known that the food area of Ikea is a place of meeting and relaxation where customers spend a pleasant time while tasting meals, snacks, etc. For this reason, all those people who do not eat animals or their derivatives cannot be left aside, as they make up a good number of the clientele of this business.
The importance of healthy spaces in shopping malls
Today, the Saluhall concept will only be available in select locations worldwide, including Changsha, in China; Gurugram in India; and, of course, San Francisco, CA. Every day, these spaces will feature all kinds of food free of meat, fish, etc., such as ice cream made with oat milk or veggie burgers. Everything will be prepared with local products from the area at affordable prices for all budgets.
Another of the experiences that Saluhall will include will be the cooking workshops. After mealtimes, we can attend workshops to learn how to prepare delicious Nordic dishes without meat. The leftover food in the kitchens will be donated to nearby food banks with which we can collaborate to feed anyone who needs it.