IKEA's Swedish Food Market is most Americans' first encounter with Swedish candy. But how does IKEA candy compare to what you'd find in a real Swedish candy store? We compared everything.
The Short Answer
IKEA's candy is genuinely Swedish — mostly from Malaco and Cloetta. But the selection is limited (15-25 products vs 200+ in a real candy store), freshness can be inconsistent, and you're missing the best stuff. Think of IKEA as a legitimate sampler, not the full experience.
What IKEA Gets Right
- ✅ Authentic brands — Real imports from Malaco and Cloetta, matching Swedish ingredient lists
- ✅ Good prices — Often cheaper than online importers ($4-6 per bag vs $6-10)
- ✅ Instant gratification — No waiting for shipping
What IKEA Gets Wrong
- ❌ No BUBS — Most IKEAs don't carry BUBS Sour Skulls or other BUBS products (the TikTok-famous brand)
- ❌ Minimal licorice — The full salmiak/salt licorice spectrum is absent
- ❌ No pick-and-mix — Most locations no longer have lösgodis stations
- ❌ Variable freshness — Low-traffic stores may have older stock. Check best-by dates.
What to Buy at IKEA
- Marabou chocolate bars — Great IKEA price, keeps well
- Malaco Gott & Blandat — Mixed gummy and licorice sampler
- Daim bars/bags — Often cheapest at IKEA
- Polkagris — Traditional peppermint sticks rarely available online
Buy Online Instead — The Real Swedish Candy Experience
If IKEA is the sampler, these are the full experience. For the widest selection of authentic Swedish candy with fast US shipping, two dedicated retailers stand out:
🛒 Shop at Mums Swedish Candy →
🛒 Also available at Swedish Sweets →
- BUBS Sour Skulls — Not at IKEA. Get from BonBon, Sockerbit, or Swedish Candy Store
- Salt licorice / Salmiak — Online stores have the full intensity range
- Pick-and-mix — The core Swedish candy experience, online only
- Fazer chocolate, seasonal varieties — Online specialists only
Our Recommendation
IKEA is a great entry point — grab some Marabou and Malaco next time you're there. But for the full experience (BUBS, pick-and-mix, salt licorice), order from a dedicated Swedish candy store. For a complete IKEA breakdown, see our IKEA candy guide.
Shop authentic Swedish candy from trusted retailers with fast US shipping.
Founder & Editor
Former Swedish candy & FMCG professional turned US-based founder of SwedishCrave. Built the site to fill the gap he saw when he moved stateside.
