Last April 1, dozens of brands joined April Fools’, the American equivalent of April Fools’ Day and which more and more companies embrace internationally. Ikea was one of them and its proposal was a meatball-flavored lollipop, one of the most popular dishes in the restaurants in its stores. Now he makes the joke a reality in a co-branding with Chupa Chups.
The brands have teamed up to create a Swedish meatball-flavored candy. As explained by Ingka Group, Ikea’s largest retailer, it is a fun sweet inspired by the flavor of the company’s iconic meatball and its blueberry accompaniment, thus capturing the essence of Ikea food in a new and fun way.
The collaboration, according to Ikea, seeks to connect the brand with consumers through sensations; ensures that it has a surprising flavor that, at the same time, evokes the familiarity of a classic lollipop. In this sense, the sweet seeks to establish a parallel with the brand, and its commitment to innovation combined with accessibility, affordability and design.
“Together with Chupa Chups we now bring this idea to life with a playful touch. It’s a fun way to celebrate our passion for food and show that even a simple joke can become something real, surprising people in unexpected ways.“, said Javier Quiñones, Commercial Director of Ingka Group, in a statement.
It is part of the prioritization of an approach focused on cooking and food
The company assures that the initiative is part of the prioritization of an approach focused on cooking and food for this exercise, with the intention of underlining the fundamental role that food plays in creating joyful moments to share in everyday life at home and Ikea’s ability to make them a reality.
What’s more, co-branding is supported by data from the “Ikea Cooking & eating Report 2026” report, which reveals that 29% of people enjoy exploring new foods and cuisines, while 40% say they feel especially attracted to foods linked to childhood memories and nostalgia. The collaboration with Chupa Chups aspires to connect with these feelings.
For its part, Chupa Chups, which has recently revised its packaging to make it easier to open, points out that the initiative aligns with its philosophy of fun. “When Ikea invited us to explore a lollipop inspired by their iconic Swedish meatball, we were immediately intrigued. At Chupa Chups, we are always looking for new ways to surprise and delight people; It’s part of our ‘Forever Fun’ spirit.“commented Martin Hofling, Global Marketing Manager of Chupa Chups. “This limited edition lollipop is our fun tribute to a flavor that people around the world associate with IKEA, reinvented in a unique way..
As Ikea points out, a total of one million lollipops will be produced and distributed during the month of June in hundreds of its stores to try them for free, but they will not go on sale. In this way, co-branding works at a tactical level as an invitation to consumers to visit the company’s establishments.
The candy will not be available in Sweden, Japan, India, Serbia, Croatia, Romania and Slovenia.
