IGA CFO RETIRES - 11/8/2007

Author: IGA News

CHICAGO, IL - IGA today announced Chief Financial Officer Bob Grottke will retire from IGA effective Jan. 1, 2008. Grottke’s primary responsibilities will be assumed by IGA Controller John Collins, who, upon Grottke’s retirement, will be promoted to vice president of finance reporting directly to IGA USA CEO Mark Batenic.

Grottke, who became IGA CFO in July of 2002, will work with IGA throughout 2008 to help with the transition of his duties. As a part of his role, Grottke will continue to serve as chairman of the trustees of the IGA Group Employee Benefit Plan.

“We at IGA would like to thank Bob for his many contributions to IGA over the years, and we wish him well on his retirement,” Batenic said. “Additionally, I would like to express my great confidence in John Collins’ abilities. We look forward to working with him in his expanded role with IGA.”

Collins, a CPA who joined IGA as controller in April of 2002, has now spent nearly 20 years of his career working within the grocery and consumer package goods industries. In addition to his tenure at IGA, this experience includes an eight year position as director of international finance and administration for then Chicago-based Helene Curtis Industries Inc., and five more years in the same position at Unilever following the company’s purchase of Helene Curtis.

IGA is the world's largest voluntary supermarket network with aggregate worldwide retail sales of more than $21 billion per year. The Alliance includes more than 4,000 Hometown Proud Supermarkets worldwide, supported by 36 distribution companies and more than 55 major manufacturers, vendors and suppliers encompassing everything from grocery to equipment items. IGA has operations in 44 of the United States and more than 40 countries, commonwealths and territories on all six inhabited continents.