TED THORNE NAMED IGA 2002 INTERNATIONAL RETAILER OF THE YEAR

CHICAGO, IL – Ted Thorne, owner of Carrollton, Ohio, based Thorne's IGA SuperCenter, has been named one of seven IGA 2002 International Retailers of the Year.

Thorne was chosen for the annual award from the more than 4,400 IGA Retailers worldwide. A committee of Food Industry experts selected Thorne for his exceptional leadership and outstanding performance in the past year. He will be honored at IGA's 2002 International Retailers of the Year Awards Dinner Ceremony, to be held on Saturday, May 4, during the Food Marketing Institute's Supermarket Industry Exposition in Chicago.

"Being named IGA Retailer of the Year is no small accomplishment," said Dr. Thomas Haggai, chairman and CEO of IGA. "Every aspect of operational success is reviewed, ranging from the retailerÕs ability to display innovative leadership skills to his commitment to community involvement. Ted Thorne's focus on family participation, business reinvestment and community support exemplify the very best of Hometown Proud."

Thorne has been a member of IGA since September of 1998 and currently owns three IGA Supermarkets. Community support is a large part of Thorne's operating philosophy. His most successful donation project to date has been the Carrollton location's Community Hot Dog Stand, proceeds from which allowed him to donate more than $30,000 to 33 non-profit organizations last year.

"I'm very honored to be the recipient of the IGA 2002 International Retailer of the Year Award," said Thorne. "This award would have not been possible without the support that I received not only from my management staff, but also the care and attention given by each and every associate. The Thorne family is proud to be a part of IGA."

IGA, the only global supermarketer based in the United States, 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 4,400 Hometown Proud Supermarkets worldwide, supported by 37 distribution companies and more than 55 major manufacturers, vendors and suppliers encompassing everything from grocery to equipment items. Through its alliance, IGA ranks in the top 10 in world food supermarketing. IGA has operations in 48 states and 41 countries, commonwealths and territories on all six inhabited continents.