IKEA to source from Pinoy farmers ingredients for in-store restaurant

IKEA Southeast Asia intends to buy from Filipino farmers the food ingredients for its upcoming in-store restaurant in the Philippines that will debut in 2020.

Market Development manager Georg Platzer confirmed this development to GMA News Online on Thursday.

“I can confirm that we are sourcing (local) food for our future restaurant in the IKEA Pasay City store,” Platzer said.

As the Swedish furniture maker prepares to set up shop in the Philippines, fans of its famous meatballs are assured that the food will be made from locally-sourced ingredients.

"We are in talks with local farmers and we will continue to do so," Platzer said.

"Sourcing locally has many advantages, to mention some: shorter lead time, freshness, local and seasonal relevance, less CO2 emissions, and of course, support the local farm industry," he said.

IKEA is set to open its biggest store in the world next year at the SM Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City. The 65,000-square meter complex is equivalent in size to 150 basketball courts. 

In its LinkedIn profile, IKEA Southeast Asia said it aims to source organic food in its restaurants when it opens its world's largest store in Manila next year.

"That means we can offer healthier choices for our customers while making a positive contribution to the livelihood of Filipino farmers," it said.

A complex in its own right, the IKEA store will rise in Block 4 of the MOA Complex and connected via link bridges to SM MOA in the north, MOA Arena in the east, MOA Arena Annex in the south, and SMX Manila in the west.  

Property developer SM Prime Holdings Inc. was tapped to build the store.

The furniture maker will be hiring around 500 Filipino co-workers for the initial opening and hundreds more in spin-off jobs and opportunities are expected to pop-up to support its operation. —VDS, GMA News