Building IKEA’s symbolic stone wall during IKEA Pasay’s Store of the Year celebration, symbolizing that anything can be made with something small. (L-R) Audrey Ella Habac, Senior Food Assistant; Chollin Vargas, Plan and Order Point Associate; Her Excellence Anna Ferry, Ambassador of Sweden to the Philippines; Daniel Rivero, IKEA Philippines Store Manager; Ricardo Pinheiro, IKEA Philippine Country Retail Manager; Pasay City Mayor Imelda Gallardo Calixto-Rubiano; Heraclio Cruz, Interior Designer; Maria Patricia Lee, Sales Associate.
Among hundreds of outstanding IKEA stores globally, IKEA Pasay City was named IKEA Store of the Year 2025, a recognition enjoyed by very few IKEA stores in the world. This marked a historic milestone for the Philippines, so IKEA Pasay rolled out the blue carpet to celebrate Filipino excellence on the global stage.
IKEA Pasay City received recognition for its exceptional retail performance. This was further driven by a deep understanding of the Filipino home, allowing the team to create an engaging store experience that resonated with the customers’ lifestyles.
“When we won Store of the Year, we were speechless in the best possible way,” said Daniel Rivero, IKEA Pasay Store Manager. “This is an incredible achievement for the team in the Philippines. Their passion, commitment, and togetherness truly shine through. The recognition is both affirming and emotionally rewarding for us all.”
On May 14, 2026, IKEA Pasay transformed the Swedish Restaurant into a celebratory Hall of Fame area to celebrate the accomplishments of the store’s remarkable co-workers. The Champion’s Walk runway was also lined with a Hall of Fame gallery of notable Filipinos, while the celebration was made even more memorable with the presence of distinguished guests such as Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, Olympic Gold medalist lifter Hidilyn Diaz, and renowned chef Josh Boutwood.
World-class Filipinos Michelin-starred chef Josh Boutwood, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach-Jauncey, and Olympic gold medalist lifter Hidilyn Diaz shared their winning moments during IKEA’s Store of the Year celebration.
IKEA Pasay City has now earned a permanent place in the Store of the Year Hall of Fame. IKEA Philippines will send 12 co-workers on a learning journey to IKEA Headquarters in Älmhult to deepen their connection to the brand’s culture and values.
The IKEA Philippines mindset
For Ricardo Pinheiro, IKEA Philippines Country Retail Manager, IKEA Pasay City’s retail success told only part of the story. “I am happy to congratulate IKEA Pasay City for standing out a little extra by showing what it means to combine performance with heart,” he said. “What impresses me most isn’t just the results— it’s the mindset. A commitment to people, values, and everyday retail excellence.”
IKEA Pasay City understands both the Swedish brand and Filipino culture deeply. It recognizes how Filipinos really live and designs an experience for them to want to spend time at its store. It pays close attention to how people actually shop, and by showing up for its co-workers when it matters most, the store turns consistency into distinction. It also made food a core part of the IKEA experience, anchored in taste, affordability, and efficiency.
Pinheiro added, “Our team believes that retail excellence is about doing the ordinary things well, every single day. Prioritizing people, understanding how customers truly live and shop, and treating food, care, and consistency as essential parts of the experience are what we at IKEA Pasay City practice every day—and still learn from.”
Then there are the small things the local team does exceptionally well. By sharpening their approach to add-on sales in both the showroom and Market Hall, the team increased articles sold per transaction to nearly 17 items.
Celebrating the 12 remarkable IKEA Pasay co-workers who contributed to the Store of the Year win. They will fly to the IKEA Headquarters in Älmhult for a learning journey.
By the end of 2025, IKEA Pasay City reached another milestone: selling more IKEA home furnishing pieces than any other IKEA store in the world. The result of disciplined routines and a sharp understanding of customer behavior, it underscored the store’s ability to scale excellence at speed.
For a store that set out to make home better for the many, the IKEA Store of the Year recognition feels earned. ‘
The celebration doesn’t stop here. IKEA Pasay will have a “Winning Offer” promo from May 14 to 31, 2026, where customers can get discounts on select pieces of furniture and decor.
For more information, visit IKEA.ph and follow IKEA Philippines on Facebook and Instagram.
