IGA NAMES 2005 INTERNATIONAL RETAILERS OF THE YEAR

Tim Myers Receives Prestigious Global Award

CHICAGO, IL - IGA today announced Tim Myers, owner of Roselawn IGA in Roselawn, Ind., has been named one of six 2005 IGA International Retailers of the Year. Myers was chosen for the annual award from the 4,400 IGA Retailers worldwide. A committee of IGA executives and food industry experts based their decisions on performance of the retailers in areas ranging from leadership and innovation to hometown involvement and employee development. Myers was honored at IGA's 2005 International Retailers of the Year Awards Dinner Ceremony held at the IGA Global Summit, Tuesday, March 1, at Marriott’s Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa in Palm Springs, Calif.

“In the more than 20 years that Myers has been a member of IGA, this devoted family man has become a father figure not only to his four children, but to generations of Hometown Proud kids in the community of Roseland, Indiana,” stated IGA Chairman and CEO Dr. Thomas Haggai. “Whether supporting the traveling baseball team, sponsoring summer reading programs or creating a ‘reality-shopping day’ to teach kids the value of a dollar, Myers always puts children first. IGA International Retailers of the Year Tim Myers represents the very best the retail world has to offer.”

“Tim and his family epitomize what being an IGA retailer is all about,” Jim Buchanan, President and COO of Laurel Grocery Company, said. “In addition to operating one of the finest stores we serve, Tim and his team are a huge part of their community giving both time and money throughout the year. We at Laurel are very proud of Tim and his team and grateful to be able to be associated with them.”

“I’d like to thank my dedicated team at Roselawn IGA for helping me achieve this award, as well as IGA, INC. and Laurel Grocery,” Myers said. “Everyday in the grocery business is a group effort. I am honored to be included in the prestigious circle of IGA International Retailers of the Year.”

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 37 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.