Swedish furniture chain Ikea is being criticised by Italians for using Mafia stereotypes to promote its new kitchen range.

The Telegraph reports that the ‘Very Good Fellas’ TV and online advert features characters who speak with Sicilian and Neapolitan accents disposing of a bag that could contain a corpse. It turns out however that they are a group of environmentally aware friends who are having dinner together.

Featuring the slogan ‘Behaving well in an Ikea kitchen comes more naturally’ the campaign has been criticised in the south of Italy for its use of stereotypes.

Ikea’s marketing manager Fabrizio Concas apologies for any offence caused by the advert.