Ikea India is strategically enhancing its food and beverage (F&B) offerings as a key driver for customer traffic and engagement in its stores. According to Adosh Sharma, the country commercial manager, food is a significant reason customers visit Ikea, contributing nearly 10% to the company's business. The company reported a widening net loss of ₹1,325.2 crore for the fiscal year 2024-25, alongside a 3.33% decline in revenue from operations to ₹1,749.5 crore. To address this, Ikea is localizing its menu to reflect Indian tastes, with affordable options such as hot dogs priced at ₹69 and chicken meatballs selling over 300,000 units in 2024-25. This approach not only increases customer dwell time by about 2 hours but also encourages repeat visits, as shoppers often leave with additional purchases. The F&B sector is also playing a crucial role in retail real estate growth in India, with its share of overall retail leasing projected to rise from 16% in 2023 to 22% in 2025. As consumer behavior shifts towards experience-led shopping, Ikea aims to leverage food as a long-term strategy to drive store traffic and enhance customer loyalty.