Älmhult is a small town in rural southern Sweden — the birthplace and beating heart of IKEA. Like many other places, it faces the ongoing challenge of staying attractive to residents, visitors, and investors.

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What makes Älmhult unique is that a global company has chosen to continue to grow and develop here. With strong roots in entrepreneurship, creativity and collaboration, IKEA plays an active part in the community and want to contribute by creating conditions for people and businesses to thrive here, together with the local community.

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Together with Älmhult Municipality, IKEA Älmhult is now developing a shared strategy and clear positioning for the town,  with initiatives that support education, entrepreneurship, and business development. The goal is to make Älmhult a resilient and inspiring place to live, study, visit, work and invest in.

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Building on their strong heritage in design and business development, Älmhult is now moving forward with design thinking, incubators, labs, and learning environments focused on the future of homes and living. IKEA Älmhult is turning vision into action and redefining what corporate place community involvement leadership can look like. 

 

At PLACExNordic 2026, we’ll learn more about IKEA Älmhult’s work - and perhaps even influence  the solution of how global companies can help small towns shape the places of tomorrow.

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Image: Tina Petersson Lind, CEO IKEA Älmhult AB

 

 

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