How Ikea want to attract tech talent with 3D printed meatballs

Ikea is launching a worldwide recruitment campaign for a whole array of jobs in technology and computing. The bait: vegetarian 3D printed meatballs.

Applying with balls

The Swedish furniture chain wants to invest in new technologies, both in sustainability and digitalisation and is therefore looking for an array of new employees for jobs in technology. In Europe alone, Ikea is opening more than 150 roles in the field of technology and innovation this year, but there are also vacancies in China and India, for instance.

On 1 February, the retailer launched the recruitment campaign “Taste the Future” with a suitable gimmick. Ikea hopes to attract the attention of both the media and candidates by letting applicants be the first to taste 3D printed vegetable meatballs. The 3D printer is one of the chain’s newest experiments, programmed to mimic the texture, taste and appearance of the well-known ‘köttbullar’. However, there are no plans to serve them at the restaurants yet.

“Ikea is at the start of a journey to embrace data and technology to become more affordable, accessible and sustainable in an omnichannel environment. Naturally, people with imagination will play a big role in that quest. So here we’re looking for people who want to create a better everyday life with us”, says CIO Pascal Pauwels.