How IKEA uses ‘Ottoman’ meatballs as global marketing strategy
On April 28, 2018, Sweden made a startling admission that caught the world’s attention and reshaped a key part of its cultural identity. In a tweet from its official account, the country revealed that its iconic Swedish meatballs—served in IKEA stores worldwide and long considered a national treasure—were in fact inspired by a recipe brought back from the Ottoman Empire by King Charles XII in the early 18th century.
