So cheap—IKEA is selling matcha soft serve ice cream for just NT$20!

▲IKEA is selling matcha soft serve ice cream. (Photo / From IKEA Taiwan’s official fan page)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Anyone who’s been to the well-known Swedish furniture brand IKEA knows you can get a NT$10 ice cream there. The store has even introduced a fully self-service ice cream machine that attracts many visitors. Recently, IKEA launched a winter-exclusive “matcha soft serve,” priced at only NT$20—much cheaper than other matcha ice creams on the market. After IKEA’s official fan page announced the news, it received an enthusiastic response from netizens, who quickly tagged friends to go try it together. This matcha soft serve will only be available until February 28, 2018, and other flavors may be introduced in the summer.

Since IKEA announced the matcha soft serve on its official fan page, there have been over 4,000 comments. One adorable user wrote, “Oops, IKEA’s food is more attractive than its furniture,” while others commented, “Finally, a new flavor!” “Limited edition, so tempting!” and “It’s NT$10 more expensive, but the matcha flavor seems great.”


▲Furniture produced by IKEA is loved by people all over the world. (Photo / courtesy of DAZZLE Images / AP)

Although IKEA primarily sells functional home goods, interestingly, up to 30% of its customers don’t plan to buy furniture—they just want to enjoy classic dishes like meatballs, vegetable balls, and salmon from the in-store restaurant. In 2016, IKEA’s food division generated around US$1.8 billion in revenue, feeding 650 million diners across 48 countries annually. These impressive results have led IKEA executives to seriously consider opening a standalone restaurant or setting up cafes in city centers.

Currently, IKEA has five stores in Taiwan, but a future Taoyuan High-Speed Rail Station location will house the largest IKEA in Taiwan. The High-Speed Rail Bureau announced it has officially signed a contract with Milk Land Real Estate Investment and Development Co., Ltd. A new IKEA mall—the largest in Taiwan by floor space—will be built opposite the parking lot and to the left front of the Taoyuan HSR station exit. It will offer furniture and home decor retail, a supermarket, dining services, and more, with operations expected to begin in early 2021.