IGA ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN BUYING GROUP

M-C McLane International named as sourcing, consolidation and logistics supplier

CHICAGO, IL - IGA International today announced the formation of its Southeast Asia buying group. This large buying group brings together the top retailers in their specific markets, including Villa IGA Markets of Thailand, NTUC Fairprice IGA of Singapore, IGA of Shenzhen and IGA Ningbo in China, Waltermart IGA Supermarkets of the Philippines, and IGA Indonesia. This new, closely linked buying group will start with the combined annual buying power of about 150 large retail stores within their disparate Southeast Asian markets. IGA identified that M-C McLane International of Oakland, Calif., is to be the designated sourcing, consolidation and logistics supplier for all shipments related to this new and dynamic buying group.

Since 1958, M-C McLane International has been a premier international trade management service provider, global sourcing and logistics company that continues to supply end-to-end solutions to an extensive global network within the international consumer products arena. "The ability to combine the vast resources of M-C McLane International's extensive sourcing and logistics network with a buying group of significant size will permit true economies of scale,” Mike Julian, president of M-C McLane International, said of his company’s involvement.

“This is a continuation of steps we are taking to realize the leveraging power that the IGA network can bring to the international wholesaling and retailing arenas,” said Dr. Thomas Haggai, chairman and CEO of IGA, in support of the partnership. “The support IGA has received from the manufacturer/vendor community coupled with the efficiency of M-C McLane International will undoubtedly provide a solid foundation for the formation of this impressive buying group.”

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 4,000 Hometown Proud Supermarkets worldwide, supported by 36 distribution companies and more the 55 major manufacturers, vendors and suppliers encompassing everything from grocery to equipment items. IGA ranks in the top 10 in world food supermarketing. IGA has operations in 48 of the United States and more than 40 countries, commonwealths and territories on all six inhabited continents.