At DFI, diversity is at the core of our business. We operate across various formats, catering to diverse customer needs with thousands of product categories across Asian markets. To celebrate this diversity and the unique contributions of our team, we launched the “Know a Team Member" initiative, encouraging everyone to step outside their usual circles.

As part of this initiative, our Store Support Center (SSC) team members were encouraged to engage with team members from different business units and formats, to connect with those they might not ordinarily interact with, fostering a greater sense of community.

The results were heartening; team members discovered that they had much more in common than they initially thought. One notable story came from our CEO of IKEA, who participated in this initiative during Diversity Awareness Month. He had the privilege of chatting with Ricky, the Regional Manager at Wellcome. Their conversation delved into the fascinating world of the food business, innovation, and enhancing customer experiences.

They exchanged insights on innovation, with Ricky encouraging team members to share ideas during meetings, while Martin emphasised the importance of experimentation over rejection. They both acknowledged the rapid changes in retail, discussing strategies to attract customers in the evolving marketplace.

The dialogue left Martin impressed by Ricky's dedication to quality and pride in the Wellcome brand, paralleling IKEA's commitment to serving families across generations. This is just one example of how the “Know a Team Member" program can foster collaboration and innovation. We hope this can inspire many more meaningful connections and insights across other lines of business at DFI.