As a rule, best-selling products are manufactured by a number of different
suppliers. Optimising production potential and concentrating volumes are
essential in order to achieve low prices. Thanks to the fact that the IKEA
range is the same all over the world, large volumes can be ordered. IKEA has
developed a variety of tools to help its purchasers to find the best suppliers.
Competition is a natural part of this work. But so, too, is cooperation and
collaboration. IKEA also purchases raw materials and hardware in bulk, which
it then sells to IKEA suppliers.