Swedish furniture giant IKEA is expanding its plant-based food offerings through a new partnership with La Vie, a French plant-based meat brand. This collaboration introduces bacon-topped vegan hot dogs to IKEA's menu, providing customers with an innovative and affordable plant-based meal option. Customers can now enjoy IKEA's classic vegan hot dog enhanced with crispy bacon pieces from La Vie.

La Vie highlighted a specific offering on Instagram, the Korean BBQ hot dog, which comes topped with slaw. In addition to the plant-based bacon, other vegan-friendly toppings available for the hot dogs include pickles and crispy fried onions. La Vie emphasized the affordability of this new item, stating, “Hang onto your POÄNG armchair because this delicious pig-free dog costs just 90p. It’s officially the cheapest way to try La Vie… And the only time you’ll say “mmmmmmm” while assembling something with bits.”

Founded in 2021, La Vie is recognized for its creative and often collaborative marketing strategies. The brand's product line features items such as lardons, bacon, ham, and bacon bits, all crafted from high-protein rehydrated soy. This partnership with IKEA allows La Vie to reach a broader audience with its plant-based meat alternatives.

IKEA has a history of offering vegan options, having first introduced its meat-free hot dogs in 2018. Since then, the company has sold over 10 million units of these plant-based hot dogs. The sausage itself is made from a blend of kale, lentils, quinoa, and wheat protein, making it a nutrient-dense choice. IKEA also notes that the environmental footprint of its meat-free hot dogs is approximately seven times smaller than that of traditional meat-based hot dogs, aligning with its sustainability goals.

This new menu item is part of IKEA's broader commitment to increasing its plant-based menu options to support its sustainability targets. Earlier this year, in January, IKEA announced another partnership, this time with vegan meat brand THIS, to bring pork-style sausages to select IKEA cafes across the UK. Mark Cuddigan, CEO of THIS, commented on the collaboration, saying, “We’re thrilled to partner with IKEA to bring our sausages to even more people – two purpose-driven brands working together to serve great food. The only instruction you’ll need for our sausages is… eat them before someone else does!” These initiatives demonstrate IKEA's ongoing efforts to provide more sustainable and diverse food choices for its customers.