Carlie C's IGA traces back to the early 1960s, when 2026 IGA USA Retailer of the Year Mack McLamb's parents opened a small country store in Johnson County, North Carolina. Mack's father learned to cut meat with no prior grocery experience, and the family weathered early setbacks — including losing a store to a landlord — before rebuilding across the street with help from local farmers who moved the entire inventory for free. A second store followed in 1979, and the company has since grown to 33 IGA locations, with more on the way.
In the latest episode For the Greater Good, IGA CEO John Ross spoke with Mack McLamb of Carlie C's — a longtime IGA member and one of the network's most respected multi-store operators. Watch the interview below or keep reading for a recap of the conversation.
Steady in a storm. Mack credits his father's calm, even-keeled leadership style as his biggest influence, especially during hard times, including a sudden Desert Storm-era troop withdrawal that gutted sales at a Fayetteville-area store. That experience shaped a lasting philosophy: stay conservative, avoid overreacting to good times or bad, and focus on the next right step rather than assigning blame.
Frugality as a competitive edge. Operating on thin grocery margins, Mack emphasizes disciplined resource management company-wide, reminding his team that every dollar wasted requires $100,000 in sales to recover. That mindset extends to how the company evaluates risk: Carlie C's has taken bold swings, from health cards to Hispanic-focused store formats to new HVAC and refrigeration technology, but Mack stresses the importance of setting a clear downside before committing — and having the discipline to cut losses quickly when something isn't working, rather than let ego prolong a bad decision.
A culture built on love. Perhaps the most memorable theme of the conversation: Mack's insistence that "love" is the one strategy that never fails. Inspired by watching his parents build deep relationships with their community, Mack made it the foundation of Carlie C's culture — a philosophy he now shares with every new hire through an onboarding video, and one he says shows up not in slogans, but in the decisions the company makes even when they hurt financially.
Looking ahead to Atlanta. John Ross closed the conversation congratulating Mack on being named an IGA Retailer of the Year, noting that while retailers will see Carlie C's beautiful, innovative stores on stage, it's the culture behind them — one built on genuine care for customers and community — that truly sets the company apart.