IGA APPOINTS NEW MARKETING SPECIALIST

Debra Bounds Named IGA Marketing Specialist

CHICAGO, IL - IGA today announced Debra S. Bounds has been named IGA marketing specialist. Bounds, who begins her appointment immediately, will report to IGA Senior Director of Branding and Business Development Jim Walz.
Utilizing her diverse experience in marketing and advertising, Bounds will work to enhance the development and execution of a variety of IGA marketing programs, including IGA’s consumer-driven retailer marketing events. During that process, she will also concentrate on creating collaborative relationships with IGA retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturing partners.

Bounds has a Bachelor of Arts degree in advertising from Chicago’s Columbia College and has held several marketing, advertising and product management positions throughout her career. Most recently Bounds worked as an account specialist for the Oak Park, Ill., location of Shaker Advertising, the nation's second largest privately held recruitment advertising and communications firm. Prior to her work with Shaker, Bounds was a marketing consultant for the Chicago location of Edward Don & Company, the world's leading distributor of foodservice equipment and supplies. Bounds worked closely with domestic and overseas vendors within the capacity of both positions.

“Over the past year we’ve made significant improvements in development and communication of our IGA USA marketing programs,” IGA Senior Director or Branding and Business Development Jim Walz said. “With her breadth of agency and corporate marketing experience, we believe Debra Bounds will continue to facilitate positive change, ensuring that our marketing programs bring even greater value to the IGA Brand,” Walz said. “Debra’s background has given her the skills necessary to work well with our Red Oval manufacturing partners, wholesalers and retailers, enabling us to create consumer-driven marketing events that increase traffic in our IGA stores and build consumer loyalty.”

“I’m pleased to have the opportunity to work within the IGA Alliance to drive IGA’s brand image and sales through the development of creative and innovative marketing programs,” Bounds said.

IGA 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 than 55 major manufacturers, vendors and suppliers encompassing everything from grocery to equipment items. IGA has operations in 44 of the United States and more than 40 countries, commonwealths and territories on all six inhabited continents.

For Information Contact
Ashley M. Page 773-772-5724