2023 Awards & Recognition

ADvay Partnership Award
AR Marketing & Redner's Markets

AR Marketing and Redner’s Markets receive the ADvay Partnership Award for their continued commitment to implementing a more effective and efficient advertising and marketing plan.

For the last five years, Redner’s Markets has worked with ADvay to audit their print distribution along with AR Marketing, who managed their digital and social marketing.

Since then, ADvay’s role has evolved into print media buying and continued market and loyalty program audits and reviews to ensure the marketing plan for Redner’s is optimized and running efficiently as possible alongside AR Marketing’s social media efforts.

ADvay 360° Analytic Insights Award
Spires IGA Market & Ira Higdon Grocery Company

Spires IGA Market and Ira Higdon Grocery Company receive the ADvay 360° Analytic Insights Award for their commitment to improving their customer experience by using data & analytics to learn their marketplace.

After completing ADvay’s Business Optimization process, Spires and Ira Higdon were able to clearly define their trade area, identify where their customers were coming from, and pinpoint the cross-shopping habits of their loyal customers.

Based on this data, both companies worked with ADvay to develop a marketing strategy that optimized communications to their customers and prospective customers via the monthly marketing management program. As a result, Spires IGA Market has seen a 13% increase in sales and a total increase of 64 transactions per day.

ADvay 360º Analytic Insights Award
Waltermart

Waltermart earns the 360° Analytic Insights Award for their commitment to using data and analytics to learn about their marketplace and improve the customer experience.

After completing ADvay’s Business Optimization process to clearly define their trade area, identify where their customers were coming from, and pinpoint the cross-shopping habits of their loyal customers, Waltermart also completed a customer and employee perception survey to determine strengths and opportunities.

Based on these insights, they were able to develop a customized strategy to increase sales and improve the customer experience.

Digital Media Pioneer Award
Geissler's Supermarkets

Geissler’s Supermarkets receive the Digital Media Pioneer Award for their excellence in digital advertising optimization through the Independent Grocers Alliance Retail Media Network.

After completing ADvay’s Business Optimization process, Geissler’s also completed the customer and employee perception survey to determine strengths and opportunities. As a result, Geissler’s Supermarkets reduced advertising expenses from 1.4% of sales to 1% of sales.

By realigning their digital spend to include top-of-funnel branding and bottom-of-funnel digital circular programs, they reduced advertising spend, increased sales, and increased their budget toward offer funding via their newly launched loyalty program.

Digital Pioneer Award
Young's Payless IGA

Young’s Payless IGA earns the Digital Pioneer Award for their excellence in digital advertising optimization through IGA’s local digital ad platform.

After completing ADvay’s Business Optimization program in 2019, Young’s Payless learned they were underserving the Hispanic community and could save on advertising expenses by making strategic cuts to their print advertising. Continued customer tracking suggested the store could methodically eliminate print altogether without losing sales.

The results? After stocking more Hispanic items, cutting $240,000 in print expenses, and redeploying $57,000 towards digital promotions, store sales and customer count have both increased significantly.

Fresh Food Innovation Award
Jones & Co. Grocer

Jones & Co. Grocer, comprised of eight stores in Australia, receives the Fresh Food Innovation Award for their passion and commitment to providing their shoppers with the best in fresh, local, and sustainably sourced foods.

Their creative marketing and merchandising throughout the store have cemented their reputation for providing quality service and they have become a true community destination, delighting customers with exciting new finds trip after trip.

Local Equals Fresh Award
Hollister Supermarket IGA

It’s amazing what new décor can do to a store and the people in it. Chang So, owner of three Hollister Super IGA in California, upgraded the stores with IGA’s Local Equals Fresh décor to give back to these communities for their support, including local photos and graphics tailored to its demographics.

Associates love the upgrades, and their enthusiasm is felt by shoppers, who say they feel proud of the store’s focus on the local community and value.

Sustainability Award
Strack & Van Til

Since 2014, Strack & Van Til has established Green Teams at each store, focused on conserving energy, reducing waste, and recycling.

It’s paying off. Not only have they saved money, they have already met their 2023 goal of reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by 40%!

Growers Association 
Laurel Grocery Company

Laurel Grocery Company earns the Growers Association Award for their work on IGA’s first ever digital advertising campaign in support of American farmers.

This initial campaign, in conjunction with the Florida Department of Agriculture, promoted Florida-grown produce in 20 IGA/Laurel stores in the wake of the devastating hurricane that hit Florida.

Despite the recent hurricane and subsequent effect on inventory, every product within the campaign outperformed the baseline sales trend from year prior—increasing store sales for our retailers and supporting our family of independent farmers in their time of need.

Community Giving Award
Ritchies IGA

Ritchies IGA receives the Community Giving Award for their immense dedication to giving back to the communities of their 90 stores across Australia.

Since 1993, Ritchies’ Community Benefit Program has generated and donated over $52 million through their digital donation process that utilizes their Loyalty Card and costs the beneficiary nothing to participate.

Top beneficiaries to date include the Cancer Council, Royal Children’s Hospital and Australian Animal Aid Protection Society.

Giving Back Award
Bozzuto’s Inc.

Bozzuto’s Inc. receives the Giving Back Award for their ongoing commitment to raising awareness and funds for the Special Olympics.

What started out as a humble ride of 20 motorcycles in 2001 has turned into a year-long community commitment to celebrate the achievements of Special Olympics athletes and individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities known as The Dream Ride.

Today, the weekend-long event in Farmington, Connecticut welcomes thousands of motorcyclists, automotive enthusiasts, and guests from across the world who come together to support The Hometown Foundation, Inc. and has raised more than $20 million for Special Olympics.

Entrepreneurial Growth & Development Award
UMS/Unitrade South Africa

UMS/Unitrade South Africa earns the Entrepreneurial Growth and Development Award for their ongoing support of independent grocers in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe.

Since its founding in March of 2000, UMS’ mission has been to ensure independent grocers thrive and succeed in the face of brutal competition from chains. Assimilating the total purchasing power of over 500 independent stores has insured their success and growth.

Social Media Award
Sprankle’s Neighborhood Market

Sprankle’s Neighborhood Market earns the Social Media Award for their excellence in social media engagement and innovative shopper campaigns. By using Facebook to connect with shoppers and advertise store offerings, Sprankle's social media posts reach over 100,000 people per week.