- 10/02/2026
- Posted by: Valerie Vaz MP
- Category: News
I was pleased to host the IKEA Annual Retail Reception in the Jubilee Room in the House of Commons on 10 February 2026 supported by Total Politics.
MPs were invited and were able to talk to IKEA co-workers from around the country.
Welcome everyone especially those MPs with IKEA in your constituency and those who want one speak to Matt:
I recently visited on a Sunday and was a rainy day and I thought everyone would be at home, but it was packed.
I wanted to buy a Bondskaret hat and coat stand; in bright yellow, to liven up the office. I have one in Parliament and one in Walsall. I also picked up some preserved flowers, lovely yellow forsythia, and the glass jar.
I carried the box and flowers and vase from Aisle 33 location 49 to the checkout only to drop the vase. And a lovely co-worker Winnie from Wednesbury asked her co-worker to get another one.
Those of you who have been to one of these events will know how IKEA moves on to the issues of the day:
Good design at a reasonable price: designed by Ilse Crawford I noticed a pendant light shade; I had to have it -but I have recycled the old one.
Sustainability: recycling preloved goods. You can find an area in stores where there are items that people no longer need.
Then last year Better Neighbourhoods and a partnership with Shelter which drew attention to homelessness.
And now this year, the issue that confronts us
food waste and sustainability.
Ikea have already moved forward with Plant balls; and there are specials I know in Wednesbury where families can eat cheaply.
Now there is a serious focus on food waste and sustainability which we need to focus on if we are to survive as a planet.
So, thank you to everyone who has worked on this event and all the co-workers up and down the country and especially those who came here to Parliament to prepare the food bringing us the wonderful every day.
We have seen Peter Jelkeby the Former CEO moved to Germany but it gives me great pleasure to introduce: Deputy CEO UK and Ireland, Mustafaa El Garaa
We were treated to food that was prepared by IKEA’s own food service co-workers from IKEA’s restaurants, including traditional Swedish meatballs, plant-based meatballs, Gravalax wraps and pastry cups with creme fraiche, mayonanise and prawns with cod roe on the top and of course Daim cake and almond pastries.
The event was well attended by MPs to network with IKEA co workers to hear about this year’s theme: “Food Waste and Sustainability”.
Businesses in the UK generate 42% of food waste, prompting IKEA to set a goal in 2017 of halving food waste in its restaurants and Swedish Food Markets by 2030.
In 2023, IKEA became the first global company to halve food waste, reaching their goal in 2022, 8 years before their target of 2030. IKEA estimates that its efforts have saved the equivalent of 37.8 million meals from going to waste.
I am pictured (right) with Mostafa El Garaa, IKEA’s Deputy Country Retail Manager for the UK and Ireland, and Matt Maguire, Public Affairs Manager at IKEA.
