IGA Honors Retailers At Awards Of Excellence Ceremony

The Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) honored retailers from across the globe at the IGA Awards of Excellence Ceremony, sponsored by Coca-Cola, during The NGA Show on Monday, March 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Hosted by Michael Sansolo, IGA CEO John Ross, and IGA Chairman Mark Batenic, the member awards highlighted a range of best practices and innovations, including excelling in merchandising and staff development. Keep reading to learn more about the winners and their awards.

CEO Award

Jimmy Wright accepts his award from John Ross.

At the beginning of the night, Ross presented the inaugural CEO Award, bestowed upon an Independent Grocers Alliance member going above and beyond to make positive change within the Alliance and the communities they serve, to Wright's Market Owner Jimmy Wright.

“Despite having a thriving grocery business of his own to run, Jimmy Wright has made it his mission to do everything in his power to help independent retailers address food insecurity, from offering his insights on pricing strategies for economically challenged communities and helping small-format independents in urban and rural areas get established, to fighting for food nutrition legislation that benefits at-risk families and evens the playing field for independents,” said Ross.

IGA USA Retailers of the Year

Ross, IGA Chairman Mark Batenic, and Host Michael Sansolo then presented IGA USA Retailer of the Year awards to nine U.S. retailers for their exemplary work in the grocery industry over the past year. 

“This year’s group of Retailers of the Year have developed stores that I want down the street from my home,” Ross said. “And I'm thrilled to share what they’re doing with everyone here tonight so we can recognize them publicly and leave here inspired with new ideas.”

Each of these U.S. Retailers of the Year were put forward by their wholesalers as their top retailers.

"There are 30,000 independent grocery stores in the U.S. — we represent one-third of the U.S. grocery market. These nine retailers have been chosen to represent not only their wholesaler, but their communities,” Ross said.

IGA USA International Retailer of the Year

Don, Judy, and Matthew Gabriele (second, third, and fourth from left, respectively) accept their awards with fellow Nemenz IGA associates.

Judy and Don Gabriele were named IGA USA International Retailer of the Year for running an exemplary store, Nemenz IGA. Located in Struthers, Ohio, Nemenz IGA is served by Laurel Grocery Company.

“Nemenz IGA is truly a festival of food,” Ross said while presenting the award. “The bakery is one of the best you’ll see anywhere, with handmade packzis for Mardi Gras and cakes made by one of their 30 bakery employees."

"But it’s more than just one department that makes Nemenz one of the finest grocery stores in the world," Ross continued. "It’s custom local products, like the store-ground sausage made from a family recipe that local Italian restaurants use and customers drive from neighboring states to buy; it’s their creative events, like, ‘Sip and Decorate’ evenings where shoppers learn how to decorate a themed cake while sipping on a glass of wine; it’s their commitment to community through tens of thousands of dollars of donations to local organizations every year; and an artisan approach to food without artisan pricing.”

IGA USA Retailer of the Year & Innovation Award

The Crop’s Fresh Marketplace team accepts their awards.

Served by Bozzuto's, Inc. and located in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, Crop's Fresh Marketplace offers an innovative shopping experience, from the assortment to the technology implemented throughout the store.

"John and Chad Cropper are a retailing duo never afraid to think creatively, and take risks that put their store, their team, and their products in the best possible light," Ross said while presenting the IGA USA Retailer of the Year and Innovation Award.

"They take license to romance the food, so every display makes you hungry and the shopping experience is both informative and fun," Ross continued. "Their high-service fresh departments provide meal solutions for every family, and the digitally-enabled salad bar is a brand-new take on an old fashioned service many stores have abandoned. They exemplify what it means to be an innovative and modern IGA retailer in everything they do."

IGA USA Retailer of the Year & People Development Award

Debbie Jacques Malone (second from left) accepts her awards.

"Debbie transformed her store into a best-in-class grocery destination by leading her team by example," Ross said while presenting the IGA USA Retailer of the Year and People Development Award to Debbie Jacque Malone. Malone runs KJ's Market in Greenwood, South Carolina, which is served by W. Lee Flowers.

"Under Debbie's influence, her team learned to better engage with shoppers, ask questions, and take pride in everything they do — even the little things," Ross continued. "Today she is molding passionate future retail leaders who understand the importance of delivering the same superior shopping experience every single time a customer enters the store."

IGA USA Retailer of the Year & Hometown Hero Award

The Hammer & Wikan team accept their awards.

Led by Jim Floyd, Bruce Westre, and Bud Samuelson, Hammer and Wikan is located in remote Petersburg, Alaska and served by J.B. Gottstein. Despite the challenge of receiving shipments from Seattle, Washington only twice a week, the store offers a robust assortment of products to their shoppers. 

"In many remote stores you see a dated shopping experience, often with a small assortment curated of only the best sellers," Ross said. "Hammer and Wikan is anything but that: they have chosen to provide an exceptional shopping experience, with the best selection, price, and service."

Beyond the store offerings, the team is well-deserving of the Hometown Hero Award, Ross said as he presented that award and the IGA USA Retailer of the Year Award. "They recognize being a truly impactful independent grocers means investing in people. With incredible benefits and opportunity to develop skills that will help employees move up in the industry, this store is one of the best places to work on the island. They also take care of their neighbors, making donations to anyone in need, and being the first to send water and essential food supplies any time disaster strikes."

IGA USA Retailer of the Year & Fresh Merchandising Award

Greg Wasley (second from left) accepts the awards. 

Served by C&S Wholesale Grocers, SPD Markets in Grass Valley, California stand out for their selection of fresh and local food.

"SPD’s commitment to community is legendary in their area, and they’re known for giving back in every way, from donations to local organizations to supporting local suppliers with creative and inspiring merchandising in all their fresh departments," Ross shared while presenting the IGA USA Retailer of the Year and Fresh Merchandising Award.

"Fruits and vegetables are displayed to give you a sense of the local California farms; the meat department features local meat cut and presented like a high-end craft butcher; and they have a gorgeous selection of fresh seafood," Ross continued. "It's all presented in a way that makes you feel excited about food, and confident that your dollar is going as far as it can."

IGA USA Retailer of the Year & Quality & Value Award

Tim Forshee (center) accepts the awards from Mark Batenic (left) and John Ross (right).

At Bowling Green, Kentucky's Price Less IGA #484 — which is part of Houchens Food Group — Tim Forshee runs a store that demonstrates excellence in value without compromise.

"Tim and his team at Price Less IGA run a high-value, cost plus format, with a focus on quality and customer service that makes it feel you’re shopping in a high-end store," Ross said while presented the IGA USA Retailer of the Year and Quality & Value Award to Forshee. 

"Add to that extensive community involvement and a commitment to contribute positively to the lives of the people the serve, and you can see why Price Less IGA attracts shoppers from every end of the economic spectrum," Ross added.

IGA USA Retailer of the Year & Meat Merchandising Award

Dan Holt (second from left) and Joe Lauria (fourth from left) accept their awards.

Holt's IGA is a family-owned and operated hometown grocery store serving the Fayetteville, Tennessee community since 1981. Led by Dan Holt and Joe Lauria and served by Associated Wholesale Grocers, Nashville Division, the store offers full-service fresh departments but the crowning jewel is the meat department, Ross said.

"They take tremendous pride in the meat offerings. Their skilled butchers have a 80 years of combined experience, and they work daily to give customers the freshest cuts and grinds for any occasion. With a vast assortment, everyone who walks in the store knows they will find the freshest, highest-quality meat for miles around," Ross continued as he presented the IGA USA Retailer of the Year and Meat Merchandising Award.

IGA USA Retailer of the Year & Leadership Award

Kristie and Jeff Maurer (center) accept their awards.

Maurer's Market IGA, located in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin and served by UNFI, is run by father-daughter duo Jeff and Kristie Maurer. Jeff, a member of the National Retailer Advisory Board (NRAB) executive team, has set a shining example of taking advantage of the freedom independent grocers have to try new things.

"The best leaders are never afraid of to take risks and reinvest in the business," Ross said as he presented the IGA USA Retailer of the Year and Leadership Award. "Maurer’s Market IGA is always reinvesting, taking advantage of government grants to make the store more energy efficient, adopting electronic shelf tags and EV charging ports, and trying out new events and sales to help the people in his community put a great dinner on the table at a great price."

"The store is often the first to test and learn for the entire Independent Grocers Alliance, and Jeff is always willing to share his experiences with his fellow retailers," Ross continued. "And Kristie is a driving force of creative ideas that will keep shoppers coming back year after year."

IGA USA Retailer of the Year & the Ricky St. John Taking Care of People Award

Rob Hilleary (third from right) accepts his awards.

When Ross visited Pochahontas IGA in Marlinton, West Virginia — which is served by MDI — he immediately noticed Rob Hilleary's dedication to taking care of his store team and community.

"The award you are taking home tonight is very special to IGA, as it is named after an IGA field team member who worked with us for 20 years, and passed away in 2022," Ross said as he presented the IGA USA Retailer of the Year and Ricky St. John Taking Care of People Award to Hilleary. 

"Ricky was known throughout the independent grocery industry for his willingness to take on any task, always ready to step in and provide support, and made every interaction more fun and a bit brighter. That’s the spirit we see in Pocahontas IGA. Rob is constantly supporting associates, creating a familial atmosphere among his team, inspiring them to take care of customers like family, and of course, gives back to the community."

IGA International Retailers of the Year

At the ceremony, Batenic, Ross, and Sansolo honored the International Retailers of the Year from Australia and South Africa, who were chosen from among their global peers as the best of the best in their respective countries.

2024 IGA Australia International Retailers of the Year Spero Tsapaliaris and Philip Funnell (center) accept their award for their store Saints Foodland in South Australia, served by Metcash Food.

2024 IGA South Africa International Retailers of the Year Abu Khatib and Suhail Bayat (center) accept their award for their store Super Save Foodtown Hyper in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Served by Unitrade Management Service (UMS).