A staff member directs customers to order food first and then take seats in the restaurant at the furnishing store of IKEA in Xuhui District, Shanghai, China, 11 October 2016. A store of IKEA in Shanghai's Xuhui District is trying once again to take back control of its canteen, which has been turned into a matchmaking corner for the elderly. The latest measure "order food first, then take seat" was launched after customers complained the elderly were occupying tables for excessive periods, leaving other diners unable to be seated. The elderly were also accused of talking too loudly, bringing in their own food, and even quarreling or fighting, the company said. Over the past few years, many single senior citizens have come to the canteen on Tuesdays and Thursdays to meet friends and perhaps find a potential partner. Its spacious room, offer of free coffee, and easy accessibility via public transport make the canteen an ideal meeting place. However, elderly patrons returning Tuesday (11 October 2016) for their first get-together after the holiday, were in for a surprise. They found the eating area railed off and they were reminded by staff they needed to buy food first before occupying a seat. This is not the first time the multinational company has tried to keep order in its canteen. In 2011, it tried, unsuccessfully, to steer the matchmaking group to one corner of the canteen to minimalize their effect on other customers.
