IKEA adds broccoli leaf soup to its menu, finding value in what most harvests leave behind
Roughly a quarter of every broccoli plant consists of edible leaves that are typically left to rot in the field. So, this month, IKEA Sweden is introducing broccoli leaf soup at its restaurants.
A broccoli plant is roughly 20% floret, 30% stalk and 50% leaves. Yet when harvested, the leaves remain unharvested, even though about half are perfectly edible. Harvesting the tenderest half of the leaves could theoretically double broccoli yield without requiring additional land, water, fertilizer and seeds, and without depleting soil nutrients. IKEA's soup emerged from a pilot project led by Axfoundation, which brought together the entire value chain to develop an efficient method for processing Swedish broccoli leaves.
By chopping, packaging and gently heat-treating the leaves, the team created a raw ingredient with appealing flavor, color, aroma and texture — suitable for various dishes. Vegetable wholesaler Grönsakshallen Sorunda then developed the soup recipe, combining broccoli leaves with leeks, potatoes and onions. Priced at SEK 25 (roughly USD 2.70/ EUR 2.30), the soup will be available in limited quantities across all Swedish IKEA stores starting late January, with hopes to scale up significantly during the 2026 harvest season.
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Food waste in agriculture often happens long before consumers enter the picture, with perfectly usable parts of crops abandoned at harvest. IKEA's broccoli leaf initiative demonstrates how retailers can work backward through the supply chain to capture value that's literally being left on the ground.
By developing processing methods and recipes for overlooked ingredients, brands can turn agricultural inefficiency into affordable menu items while making a tangible dent in food waste. And at SEK 25, IKEA is making the eco-positive choice the accessible choice — aligned with their "democratic design" philosophy. The environmental benefit becomes almost incidental to the consumer — they're just buying affordable soup that happens to be rescuing food waste.
