Ikea Mexico is collaborating with three social enterprises, Básicos de Mexico, Abeja Reyna, and Smartfish, following their participation in the IKEA Social Entrepreneurship Mexico Accelerator Programme (MAP). The program, a partnership with New Ventures and supported by IKEA Mexico, provides guidance and mentorship to strengthen social enterprises and enhance their impact on vulnerable communities.
The MAP focuses on increasing social and environmental impact by creating livelihood opportunities and offering affordable goods and services. While many participating enterprises operate outside the IKEA value chain, IKEA Mexico recognized the potential for collaboration with these three specific organizations.
Bridging the gap between large corporations and social enterprises often involves navigating logistical, regulatory, and economic differences. IKEA Mexico’s retail, product development, purchasing, and logistics teams worked closely with Básicos de Mexico, Abeja Reyna, and Smartfish to overcome these challenges and bring their products to IKEA customers.
Smartfish now offers sustainably sourced food products at IKEA Mexico. Customers can also purchase locally sourced honey from Abeja Reyna in their Mexico City store. Básicos de Mexico, focused on positive impacts within the textile industry, also partnered with IKEA Mexico. These partnerships exemplify IKEA’s commitment to social responsibility and supporting local communities. IKEA Social Entrepreneurship Programme Coordinator, Tirza Voss, expressed enthusiasm for the collaborations and the positive impact these enterprises are making.
The success of these partnerships highlights the potential for large companies like IKEA Mexico to support social enterprises and contribute to a more sustainable and equitable future. The collaboration demonstrates a commitment to sourcing products responsibly while empowering local communities. IKEA Mexico’s initiative serves as a model for other businesses looking to integrate social impact into their core operations.
