Ingka

Ingka Group is a multinational retail organization that operates the majority of IKEA-branded stores worldwide. It functions as the main operating arm of the IKEA concept, running stores, distribution, and services under a license from Inter IKEA Systems B.V., the franchisor responsible for the IKEA brand and concept.

Ownership and governance: The group is owned by the Stichting Ingka Foundation, a Dutch-registered charitable foundation that holds Ingka Holding B.V., the holding company that controls Ingka Group and its subsidiaries. The foundation’s purpose is to secure the long-term viability and independence of the IKEA concept, preserving its mission and values through generations of ownership.

Franchise and brand: The IKEA brand and product concept were developed by Inter IKEA Systems B.V., which is owned by the Interogo Foundation. Inter IKEA Systems licenses the IKEA concept to Ingka Group for most markets and to other licensees for other regions. This structure distinguishes the ownership and governance of the brand from the operating network that runs the stores.

Structure and operations: Ingka Group operates through entities such as Ingka Retail and Ingka Services, employing tens of thousands of people and coordinating a global supply chain, ecommerce, and store networks. The organization emphasizes affordable, well-designed home furnishings and a customer experience centered on self-assembly and value.

History: The IKEA business originated in 1943, founded by Ingvar Kamprad in Sweden. The retail group that owns and operates most IKEA stores was formerly known as IKEA Group and was renamed Ingka Group in 2016 to reflect its ownership structure, while the IKEA brand and concept remain licensed to the group by Inter IKEA Systems B.V.