To celebrate 50 years in Australia, IKEA is launching the Meatball Party Pie, a limited-time snack that combines the classic Aussie party pie with IKEA’s Swedish meatballs.
On Saturday, May 31, the new item will be offered free at all 10 IKEA stores nationwide as a thank-you to the millions of customers who have supported the brand since 1975.
The Meatball Party Pie features the IKEA meatball and gravy sauce in a pastry and topped with Swedish lingonberry jam. A plant-based version crafted with the IKEA plant ball will be available as well.
The IKEA meatball has been a global best-seller since 1985, with 3 million plates sold by IKEA Australia last year. As part of the anniversary celebration, IKEA hotdogs will also be offered for 50 cents on May 31 and June 1.
“Australians have embraced our food as much as our high quality, affordable home furnishings in the last 50 years. Fifty four percent of Aussies have eaten at IKEA at some point in their lives with a trip to the Swedish Restaurant for a plate of meatballs or plant balls, a mid-shop cinnamon bun, or hot dog at the Bistro on the way out to the carpark part of the IKEA shopping experience that Aussies hold dear,” said Tim Prevade, Country Food Manager for IKEA Australia.
“The Meatball Party Pie is a fun, flavour-packed way to celebrate that. We’ve taken the comfort of a classic Aussie party pie and combined it with the unmistakeable flavour of our iconic Swedish meatballs; creating something unexpected and nostalgic, with a unique twinkle-in-the-eye that can only be IKEA.”
The Meatball and Plantball Party Pies were developed in collaboration with Loftus Pies, a local IKEA supplier located in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire.
“We were so excited when IKEA Australia first approached us with this idea and the creation process has been a remarkable experience for us, especially with the level of secrecy involved,” said John Tsoutsas, Chief Pie Officer of Loftus Pies.
“The Meatball pie is certainly not something we’ve done before, so we spent time with the IKEA food team perfecting the recipe for the right amount of meatball to gravy to pastry, so the textures and flavours combined in just the right way. Australians are very particular about their pies, but we can’t wait for people to taste them! We’re convinced customers are going to want them on the menu, even after the party is over.”
To try the limited-edition Meatball Party Pie, customers must present their IKEA Family membership in store on May 31 while supplies last. Non-members can sign up to IKEA Family at no cost via the IKEA website or app.
IKEA will host a four-day celebration with exclusive offers, limited-edition product releases, and in-store activities from May 30 to June 2.
In addition to the Meatball Party Pie, IKEA is offering 50 percent off the POÄNG armchair for family members in-store and online from May 29, 12:00am to June 2, 11:59pm, and other in-store giveaways.