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From meatballs to scandals: unpacking the history of IKEA

The store that took flatpack global

From meatballs to scandals: unpacking the history of IKEA
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StarsInsider
03/02/2026 10:00 ‧ 23 hours ago | StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE

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In 1943, a teenage boy from a small town in Sweden began a mail-order business with his pocket money. Over 80 years later, that business is IKEA, a global mega-brand with hundreds of stores.

It revolutionized flat-pack furniture and introduced Swedish meatballs to the world. However, it has faced some controversies along the way, including legal issues, fascist scandals, horse meatballs, and even furniture mortalities.

So, click on to unpack the surprising history of IKEA.

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