In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois interview Rob Kelly, Chief Commercial Officer at IKEA Canada, exploring the company’s global food study, evolving menu innovation, and the surprising scale of its food business, including 70 million meatballs sold annually. The episode also covers key food news, including rising fuel costs impacting prices, Manitoba’s move to eliminate PST on groceries, and major investments shaping Canada’s food manufacturing sector, and the lost opportunity of the hotel minibar.
In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois lead with a fascinating interview featuring Rob Kelly, Chief Commercial Officer at IKEA Canada. Kelly, a 35-year veteran of the company, explains how IKEA—best known as the world’s largest furniture retailer—has become a powerful force in food culture and consumer insight.
IKEA’s newly released global food habits study, conducted with over 30,000 participants across 31 countries, including Canada, takes center stage in the discussion. The findings reveal shifting consumer behaviours: only 38% of Canadians regularly eat at a dining table, 27% eat on the sofa, and a striking 94% use screens during meals. The study also highlights economic pressures, with one in four Canadians admitting to eating food past its best-before date. These insights reinforce IKEA’s focus on “life at home,” where food shapes everyday experiences.
Kelly also provides a behind-the-scenes look at IKEA’s food business, which is far more significant than many realize. IKEA Canada alone sells over 70 million meatballs annually, making food one of the brand’s most powerful traffic drivers. The company is evolving its offering with new “round food” innovations such as plant-based balls and cod balls, as well as globally inspired menu items, while balancing Swedish heritage with locally sourced Canadian ingredients. Sustainability, affordability, and customer experience remain core to IKEA’s food strategy.
Before the interview segment, the hosts break down the latest food and agriculture news shaping the industry. Rising fuel prices linked to geopolitical tensions are already impacting transportation costs, with companies like DoorDash proactively supporting drivers—costs that are expected to flow through to consumers quickly. In Canada, Manitoba’s move to eliminate provincial sales tax on groceries signals a bold policy shift aimed at improving affordability, particularly for vulnerable households.
The episode also highlights positive momentum in Canadian food manufacturing, including a $250 million investment by Kraft Heinz in its Montreal facility, alongside broader industry consolidation trends such as potential acquisitions in the global CPG sector. Additional discussion explores export opportunities for Canadian dairy and value-added products to China, as well as the challenges facing vertical farming due to high capital costs.
Ikea Canadian Top 10 Highlights in the Cooking & Eating Report: