Inter IKEA, which manages product sourcing and supplies to 13 IKEA franchisees globally, is cutting 850 jobs as part of a cost-reduction effort. The layoffs represent approximately 3% of the company's 27,500-strong workforce. The Sweden-based retailer faces challenges from reduced consumer spending, rising costs and US tariffs. The cuts include 300 positions in Sweden, particularly at Inter IKEA's main hub in Almhult, where IKEA was founded in 1943. "We need to become faster, shorten the decision-making processes, and simply concentrate our efforts on these priorities," said Inter IKEA Chief Financial Officer Henrik Elm. IKEA's largest franchisee, Ingka Group, previously announced plans to eliminate 800 office-based positions.

Seprify, a Swiss biomaterials company, has raised €13.4 million in a Series A round led by Una Terra Early Growth Fund to scale production of cellulose-based alternatives to titanium dioxide. Inter IKEA Group, Zürcher Kantonalbank, Cambridge Enterprise Ventures and Kickfund participated in the round, bringing total funding to over €22 million. Founded by Lukas Schertel and Oliver Polcher from ETH Zurich, Seprify engineers cellulose microstructures to replace titanium dioxide in cosmetics, food and coatings. The company offers three product lines: SilvaLuma for suncare, SilvaAlba for food whitening, and SilvaFolia for coatings and inks. The funding will scale production to hundreds of tonnes annually through manufacturing partners and support over 100 customers moving from pilot testing to commercial purchasing.