IGA BECOMES TOPCO MEMBER

CHICAGO, IL - IGA announced today it has become a member of Topco Associates LLC, the privately held Skokie, Ill., based cooperative that supplies procurement, quality assurance, packaging, and other services exclusively for its member-owners, which include supermarket retailers, wholesalers, and foodservice companies.

Topco serves as a vehicle to leverage its members' collective volume to lessen product costs and to increase effective competitiveness. Members include companies such as Meijer, Ukrops’ Super Markets, Haagen, Schnuck Markets, Stater Bros., Hy-Vee, and many more.

As IGA continues to spread throughout the world, it is believed that Topco's comprehensive IGA private label quality assurance program will continue to give the consumer an excellent complement to the national brands. Currently, IGA's Licensed Distribution Centers procure IGA private label products separately and through multiple brokers. Those LDCs who choose will have the right to continue their present practice; however the corporation feels that joining Topco is the appropriate move for the future.

“IGA has always taken pride in the quality of its private label,” IGA Chief Financial Officer Robert Grottke said. “The corporation is indebted that the founder, J. Frank Grimes used the same label on the product as the front of the store, ensuring consumer recognition from day one. IGA’s relationship with Topco promises to favorably impact the profitability of the IGA brand for our licensed distributors. We are confident that in working with Topco, the IGA Brand will grow its presence worldwide, ensuring our retailers remain competitive.”

“IGA is a premier supermarket network and we are excited to welcome them to Topco,” Topco Senior Vice President, Member Development Ken Guy said. “The relationship between Topco and IGA will be of significant benefit to everyone.”

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.