IGA COCA-COLA INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES 2005 SUPERMARKET
OPERATIONS CLASS REGISTRATION FOR SPRING AND FALL SESSIONS
CHICAGO, IL - The IGA Coca-Cola Institute today
announced the start of registration for the spring and fall sessions
of the 2005 Supermarket Operations Class.
The IGA Coca-Cola Institute is a dynamic center for education that
is committed to the accelerated learning of the entire independent
retail community. The goal of the Supermarket Operations Class is
to enable IGA Retailers to share best practices and ideas, and learn
from industry experts how to position the IGA Supermarkets for continued
growth and improved store operations. The course will include classes
on topics ranging from creating effective marketing events, advertising
principles and branding techniques, to health and sanitation (see
below for a detailed agenda).
The spring session of the Supermarket Operations Class will be held
April 17-22, and the fall October 2-7. Both sessions will be held
at Hamburger University on McDonald’s Campus in Oak Brook, Ill.
Classroom availability will be limited to 30 IGA Retailers and five
non-IGA Retailers. Both sessions will include store tours in the Chicago
area, and attendees will be expected to complete two online certification
courses. For more information or to register online, visit the Website
at www.igainstitute.com.
“The Supermarket Operations Class has proved to be an excellent
classroom addition to the IGA Coca-Cola Institute’s online training
program,” said Paulo Goelzer, Ph.D., president, IGA Coca-Cola
Institute. “We believe that worldwide entrepreneurs and executives
have a need for a center to blend classroom and Web-based training.
The Supermarket Operations Class provides the ideal environment for
Retailers to acquire the supermarket learnings that will enable them
to become more successful on their own.”
Day 1 - Sunday, April
17 / October 2
Retailing Concepts
An overview of the major retailing concepts currently used to sell
food. A look at how each one attracts and keeps customers. Special
emphasis on the global growth of Wal-Mart. An afternoon assignment
will consist of visits to several examples of retailing concepts in
the Chicago area. Students will be asked to answer questions concerning
these concepts.
Store Tours
Facility tours and discussions provide an opportunity to gain operational
insights for current and future application to your store/s. Tours
will include Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods Market, Jewel, Sav-A-Lot,
Wal-Mart, Costco and local independents. Attendees will work on the
day’s assignment in retail formats as they travel to examples
of three varied food retailing concepts.
Day 2 - Monday, April 18 / October 3
Positioning
Discussion on how an IGA store must understand its customers’
needs, and determine which niche it must fill in the current blurred
and changing retail environment.
Group Discussion and Analyses
Discussion about previous day's store visits and corresponding assignments.
Building and Sustaining a High Performance Retail Culture
Identification and discussion of a retail leadership model that identifies
the core competencies needed to build and sustain a high performance
retail culture. Sharing of actionable ideas that can be incorporated
into the tactical planning and execution of the store manager’s
job so the store remains successful even in the face of adversity.
Day 3 - Tuesday, April 19 / October 4
Store Equipment
This session will cover several important areas, such as what you
need to know about equipment and maintenance to keep products fresh
and to reduce shrink. In addition, cost reduction practices will be
discussed.
Delicatessen / Food Service Department
Discover the possibilities that the Delicatessen / Food Service Department
offers to the growth potential of an IGA store. Topics of discussion
will include methods of suggestive selling, merchandising techniques,
product preparation, item selection, shrink, and order control.
Bakery Department
Learn how an outstanding Bakery Department can set an IGA store apart
from its competitors, what roles the store managers must play in this
department, as well as what they must know about its operations.
Day 4 - Wednesday, April 20 / October 5
Produce Department
Learn how the Produce Department can become a major driver of the
store’s sales and image. Increase the store owner’s or
manager’s knowledge about the importance of new techniques in
produce merchandising and marketing.
Floral Department
The Floral Category offers retailers attractive opportunities not
only to grow sales, but to differentiate themselves in a crowded and
competitive marketplace.
Health and Sanitation
Hear how the challenge of maintaining safe food has changed in the
past 25 years. Learn about the five Risk Factors that are the most
important to food safety in a supermarket environment. Identify the
best strategies for managing this risk.
Store Assessment Program
IGA partnered with a third-party company, Steritech, to offer a 5-Star
Store Assessment Program. Learn about this program and how you can
apply it to improve your store operations.
Branding
A look at the importance of the IGA Brand and how to use it to set
the store apart from its competition. Part of this workshop will enable
students to develop specific action plans to increase sales of IGA
products in their stores and to elevate their importance in the eyes
of their customers. Private Label management will be included in this
segment.
Day 5 - Thursday, April 21/ October 6
Effective Events and Advertising
A look at events that bring excitement and fun back into the store.
Students will bring examples of successful events practiced in their
own stores that have driven profitable sales. Attention will then
be turned to discovering the most effective methods of advertising
to capture today’s customers.
Category Management
This session will enable participants to more fully understand the
definition and role of merchandising management. In addition, it will
bring us all up to date on best practices for assortment management
and its strategic implications in the current market.
Applied Pet Category Management
This session will deal with understanding the wants and needs of pet-goods
consumers, practical pet-goods category management, and pet department
productivity. This session includes the IGA Pet Department Before-and-After
Workshop.
Day 6 - Friday, April 22/ October 7
Meat and Seafood Department
This session will emphasize methods of marketing and selling meat
and seafood in today’s changing environment, the economics of
this department, and the different topics that a successful IGA operator
needs to know.
Best Practices and Closing Exercise
The objective of this session is to identify best practices in key
areas of food retail. Pre-assigned groups will share the learning
they have collected during cross-company dialogues planned throughout
the week.
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.
