KARL SHEFFIELD RECEIVES IGA'S
J. FRANK GRIMES AWARD

CHICAGO, IL - Karl Sheffield, a former wholesale executive who was instrumental in IGA’s move to expand its operations overseas, was awarded the J. Frank Grimes Award during IGA’s 2004 Global Summit, held March 14-17 at the Marriott’s Harbor Beach Resort & Spa in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

The Award is given in recognition of extraordinary achievement to one who exhibits the principle, passion and great charisma of IGA’s founder J. Frank Grimes. Past recipients of the Award include some of the world’s most esteemed business executives.

"When we reflect on the unbelievable story of IGA becoming global, chapters must be devoted to the roll of Karl Sheffield," said Dr. Thomas Haggai, chairman and CEO of IGA. "With his keen intellect and his warmth for the world, he was the right person to do the first feasibility studies when the countries came calling upon us."

Sheffield, former chief executive officer at Blue Ridge Grocery Co., Waynesboro, Va., became senior vice president for Fleming’s Southeast division after Fleming acquired Blue Ridge in 1974. He left Fleming in 1988 to become a consultant, working primarily on behalf of IGA in Japan, Korea, Australia, India, China and Brazil with companies that eventually affiliated themselves with IGA because of their interest in understanding Western methods of food distribution. Through his work as an IGA Board member, Sheffield helped foster the IGA University, (today known as the IGA Institute) a dynamic center for learning, sharing acquired knowledge and conducting research.

“My IGA roots go back over 40 years ago when I was the youngest person on the IGA Board," Karl Sheffield said. "To receive the J. Frank Grimes Award, the highest order of merit of IGA, touches me deeply. However, Tom Haggai misplaces this honor. It is he, and he alone, who always had vision and the humanitarian skills to lead IGA to its special place in service to the global community. I had the opportunity to serve as a foot soldier in his crusade. For that I thank him and all of my IGA friends."

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.