Penang’s First Ever IKEA Sold Over 32,000 Meatballs & 23,000 Curry Puffs on Its First Day!

Cheap and delicious food is a beloved hallmark of IKEA, with most trips to the furniture giant feeling incomplete without a visit to their popular cafeteria. Hot, juicy, and delicious, their Swedish meatballs have long been the salvation of hungry shoppers, who get tired after they have browsed through their huge halls.

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They’re a worldwide favourite, which is probably why IKEA Penang sold more than 32,000 meatballs on their opening day alone. Happy shoppers also gobbled up more than 23,600 of their curry puffs on their first trip to IKEA Batu Kawan, the fourth IKEA store in the country.

People flocked from Penang and different parts of North Malaysia to attend the opening of the massive 470,146 sq ft store.

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Store manager Pathmalingam Arumugam was quite happy with the turnout, saying, “It’s a surreal feeling to finally welcome our beloved fans to our new home here in Batu Kawan. We’ve been gearing up to this very moment and the turnout was phenomenal!”

The opening weekend featured special deals and family-friendly activities like face-painting, balloon giveaways, and mascot appearances among others.

The entire store’s been given a Malaysian twist as Pathmalingam explains, “In addition to the IKEA experience that Malaysians have known and loved, customers will enjoy customised offerings suited for the local market including room sets that are fitted to the local living style, an original wall mural entitled The Trishaw Captain, hand painted by Penang resident artist Thomas Powell, and favourite local delicacies served together with our well-known Swedish favourites.”

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Topped with their lingonberry jam, the mouth-watering meatballs were predictably a great hit with the crowd since their debut in the 1980s, selling more than any IKEA product in that range.

Despite their delicious flavour and massive production numbers, the humble Swedish dish has surprisingly wholesome ingredients: beef, onion, breadcrumbs, egg, salt, and pepper. Although the original recipe contains pork, Malaysia’s variations of meatballs are certified halal.

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With over 2,000,000 meatballs eaten in IKEA’s store each day, IKEA’s founder Ingvar Kamprad’s words ring true: “It’s difficult to do business with someone on an empty stomach.”

Is it just me or did reading this article just set off some serious meatball cravings? 

Also read: First IKEA in Penang Opens to Massive Crowds, Causing 1km-Long Traffic Jam