IGA NAMES PRESIDENT’S CUP AWARD WINNERS

CHICAGO, IL - Four IGA President’s Cup Award winners have been named. Included in the judging for these annual awards are the increase of IGA Retail sales from last year, the net increase in total IGA retail square footage, the number of supermarkets added to the IGA system, the IGA Operational Assessment rating, IGA Brand support, Hometown Proud involvement, and participation in IGA events.

The recipients are as follows:

• Laurel Grocery Company, a full-line food wholesaler that serves IGA Retailers in Ga., Ind., Ky., Ohio, Tenn., and W.Va., was awarded the IGA President’s Cup for Overall IGA Performance.
• Bozzuto’s, Inc., a leading total service wholesale distributor of food and household products to IGA Retailers in New England, N.Y., N.J., Pa., and Md., was awarded the IGA President’s Cup for Greatest IGA Brand Development.
• Merchants Distributors, Inc., a privately owned wholesale grocery store distributor headquartered in Hickory, N.C., has been awarded the IGA President’s Cup for Greatest IGA Development. MDI supplies IGA stores in N.C., Ga., Ky. Tenn., Va., and W.Va.
• IGA >D Queenslandwas awarded the IGA President’s Cup for Greatest International IGA Development. IGA>D Queensland serves IGA Retailers in an area of more than 2500 square kilometers ranging from the far north of Queensland to northern New South Wales.

“As we embark on our 80 th year, we observe with great pride that the alliance of authorized distribution centers, preferred manufactures and IGA licensed Retailers has successfully joined together to form a powerful and lasting entity,’” said Thomas S. Haggai, chairman and CEO of IGA. “IGA could not stand without its dedicated licensed distribution centers. We salute these four licensed distribution centers for the continual commitment they display to IGA year-after-year, and we thank them for helping our ‘Hometown Proud’ retailers serve their beloved communities.”

IGA is the world’s largest voluntary supermarket network with aggregate worldwide retail sales of more than $19.1 billion per year. The Alliance includes more than 4,000 Hometown Proud Supermarkets worldwide, supported by 52 distribution companies and more than 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. IGA's theme and philosophy, Hometown Proud, dates from its 1930s national radio show, IGA Hometown Hour, reflecting the local roots of IGA independent grocers.