IKEA’s meatball lollipop is real, yes really real.

If you’ve ever looked at IKEA’s famous Swedish meatballs and thought to yourself ‘This needs to be on a stick’ then you’re in luck. IKEA has teamed up with Chupa Chups to create a limited-edition, meatball-inspired lollipop, a playful sweet that nods to the flavours people associate with the famous IKEA restaurant experience.

The unusual collaboration started life as a funny April Fools’ tease on April 1, when the idea of a meatball-tasting lollipop sparked plenty of curiosity online across social media. Now Ingka Group, the largest IKEA retailer, operating IKEA stores in 32 countries, has confirmed it’s turning the joke into something customers can actually try, thanks to a partnership with one of the world’s best-known lollipop brands.

The flavours are inspired by the classic meatball served in the restaurants and despite the name they are fully vegan.

So what does it plan to taste like? IKEA’s description leans into the brand’s best-known bite, the lollipop is inspired by the feelings and flavours of the iconic Swedish meatball, along with its classic sidekick, lingonberry. That sweet-tart pairing is a big part of the traditional IKEA meatball plate, and it’s also the detail that makes this whole idea feel very IKEA, familiar, comforting, and slightly odd in the most intentional way. Despite the meaty name, IKEA says it’s fully vegan. Meatballs are such a big deal for IKEA , the Swedish meatball has become one of the company’s most recognisable signatures worldwide, to the point that for vast amounts of shoppers, a trip to IKEA isn’t complete without a stop at the restaurant.

This is not a mass-market product drop. Ingka Group says one million lollipops will be produced and distributed to IKEA stores worldwide. There’s also a catch for anyone hoping to fill a shopping bag full with them; they won’t be sold. Instead, customers will be able to taste them for free in IKEA stores in June. 

A fun piece of marketing turning a joke into reality

There are also some regional exceptions. Ingka notes the lollipops will not be available in Sweden, Japan, India, Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Slovenia. The Swedish meatball lollipop won’t actually be available in Sweden. 

For IKEA, it’s a very neat piece of modern marketing. Take a fun idea, watch it travel, then make it real in a way that’s tailor-made for social media tastes. It fits perfectly into the current trend of interesting and unexpected food mash ups. It also fits the brand’s wider focus on cooking and eating, and how small treats can add a bit of joy to everyday life.