IKEA to Launch Plant-Based Food Halls in Three Countries Including U.S.

IKEA’s parent company the Ingka Group has announced the forthcoming launch of their Saluhalla dining concept, which will be at least 80% plant-based.

Concept art by Ingka Group.

The food halls are based around traditional Nordic culture that will be meat-free with at least 80% of their menu items being entirely plant-based to start, with the goal of getting that to 100% in the near future. Locations are currently in development in Changsha, China, Gurugram, India and San Francisco, CA.

“We are excited to be unveiling Saluhall, our bold and fresh Nordic take on the food hall concept,” says Jens Nielsen, Ingka Centres’ Commercial and Digital Director. “Our food offering has long been a key element of our meeting places, and with Saluhall we will go beyond dining to inspire the many people with more sustainable food choices, like plant-based dishes.”
The menus will be based on the “four pillars” of Nordic street food, which are bread, beer, burgers, and ice cream. The halls will offer oat milk ice cream, plant-based burgers and numerous other items.

“We developed the Saluhall concept to be a joyful community experience. As people come back together and enjoy spending time with each other, the demand for food halls is on the rise again,” Nielsen said. “The flexibility of Saluhall offers people the freedom they look for, and the ability to experience life together.”

The new food halls are in line with Ikea’s commitment to have at least 50% of their menus be plant-based by 2025, as well as making 80% of its packaged meals plant-based within the same time period.

“Saluhall revolves around food and drink, but it is a lot more than eating and drinking,” Stéphane Keulian, F&B Concept Development Leader at Ingka Group, said in a statement. “It is inspired by the New Nordic Food Manifesto movement that began nearly twenty years ago.”