IKEA Pasay City wins Store of the Year 2025
Driven by its people, the milestone puts the Philippines on IKEA's world stage
Published May 15, 2026 05:34 pm
Building IKEA's symbolic stone wall, a reminder that great things start 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. (Photo: IKEA)
People turn to IKEA for smart design, practical home solutions, and quality at accessible prices. With stores helping households worldwide create spaces that are functional and personal, the brand has grown into more than a retail destination. Among its many stores globally, IKEA Pasay City was recently named IKEA Store of the Year 2025, a distinction that marks a historic milestone for the Philippines on IKEA's global stage.
To mark the occasion, IKEA Pasay converted its Swedish Restaurant into a Hall of Fame space dedicated to the co-workers behind the achievement, while a Champion's Walk gallery paid tribute to Filipinos who have made their mark on the world stage. The event drew notable guests including Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, and chef Josh Boutwood. As part of the honor, IKEA Pasay City now joins the Store of the Year Hall of Fame, and 12 co-workers will travel to IKEA's birthplace in Älmhult, Sweden, for an immersive look at the brand's roots and values.
World-class Filipinos Michelin-starred chef Josh Boutwood, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach-Jauncey, and Olympic gold medalist lifter Hidilyn Diaz. (Photo: IKEA)
Bamboo (Photo: IKEA)
Daniel Rivero, IKEA Pasay store manager, spoke to what the recognition meant for the team. "When we won Store of the Year, we were speechless in the best possible way. 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."
What sets IKEA Pasay City apart is less about what it sells and more about how it shows up. The store takes Swedish brand values and reads them through a distinctly Filipino lens, pays close attention to how people actually shop, and treats its food offering seriously enough that it has become a reason to visit in itself.
For Ricardo Pinheiro, IKEA Philippines country retail manager, the answer came down to discipline in the everyday. "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."
Anna Ferry, Daniel Rivero, Ricardo Pinheiro, amd Mayor Imelda Gallardo Calixto-Rubiano (Photo: IKEA)
The 12 IKEA Pasay co-workers whose work helped earn the Store of the Year title, now headed to IKEA headquarters in Älmhult, Sweden, for a learning journey. (Photo: IKEA)
The results speak for themselves. By refining its approach to add-on sales across the showroom and Market Hall, IKEA Pasay City pushed its articles sold per transaction to nearly 17 items, and by the end of 2025, it had sold more IKEA home furnishing pieces than any other store in the world.
The celebration extends beyond the event itself. From May 14 to 31, 2026, IKEA Pasay rolls out a Winning Offer promo, giving customers discounts on select furniture and decor, a fitting way to share the milestone with the very people who make the store worth celebrating. Smart design and quality at accessible prices have always been the promise, and for a store now recognized as the best in the world, that promise has never felt more within reach.