IGA Members Celebrate Milestones

As the Independent Grocers Alliance grows — there are over 2,000 stores in the U.S. today and over 6,000 worldwide! — long-time members continue to prosper. With some members serving as the third or fourth generation grocers in their families, a handful of stores reached significant milestones in the last year. Keep reading to see those who shared their notable anniversary celebrations with our editorial staff. (Psst...did you celebrate a milestone last year or will you this year? We want to hear about it! Contact us here.)

100 Years: Geissler's Supermarkets & Picchioni's IGA

Geissler’s Supermarkets, the multi-generational family owned and operated 7-store group, celebrated 100 years in 2023. The store group continues to focus on touting their local differentiation, which has paid off as they increasingly have become known as the community's most reliable source for innovative local products.

"We are incredibly proud to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Geissler's Supermarkets, and we couldn't have done it without the loyalty of our customers, the hard work of our employees, and the support of our local communities,” said Bob Rybick, president and CEO of Geissler's Supermarkets. “Here's to the next 100 years of providing quality products and exceptional service to our customers!"

The company began in 1923 when Adolph F. Geissler bought a little grocery store from his brother for $2,500 in Broad Brook, Connecticut. The storefront was on the first floor of a two-story building where he and his family lived on the second floor. At that time, it was called A. F. Geissler and the store carried dry groceries, canned goods, teas, coffee, sugar, and salt in bulk, which had to be packaged individually for each customer.

Cut to today, with A.F. Geissler’s great-grandsons managing the family business (Bob and Andrew Rybick and Eric and Ryan Nilsson). The fourth generation honors the high quality, customer service-driven mission of the past with a Local Equals Fresh vision for the future along with a penchant for digital marketing. 

Geissler's won IGA's 2023 Digital Media Pioneer Award for their excellence in digital advertising optimization through IGA's Digital Buying Desk. Their commitment to digital continues to deliver, with a recent video campaign gaining over 415,000 impressions.

This video from one of Geissler's video ad campaigns focuses on their connection to local farms. 

Learn more about Geissler's 100 year anniversary celebration here.

Picchioni's IGA celebrated 100 years in business in 2023, a testament to the enduring spirit of Joe and Josephine Picchioni who left their Italian homeland for better opportunities in the United States. They founded OK Grocery and Meat Market in Klein, Montana.

Over the years, the store developed into a thriving grocery hub, always led by a Picchioni family member (or two). Today, David and Joe Picchioni run two stores: one in Roundup and another in Forsyth. 

“I’m really proud to be a part of the legacy,” Joe said. “It was our great grandparents in 1923 truly doing the American dream. Immigrants who came to the country with nothing, started out in the coal mines, and took a leap of faith. And here we are 100 years later. Out of respect to them, we're trying to do the best we can to keep this going and to honor the hard work that they've done.”

The stores celebrated the 100 year anniversary by selling several items at 100 cents and running a 3-week ad with various item promotions at $1 or 100 cents. They also hosted a bash with live music at the local park to celebrate with the community and employees. 

David said that 10 of his 30 employees are long-term staff that live and breathe the Hometown Proud way and help train that mission into the rest of the team, providing exceptional customer service. Joe said that his father always prioritized showing his appreciation to staff at company get-togethers and they try to do the same today.

“We've been taught for a long time that you treat your employees and your customers with the golden rule (treat others how you would like to be treated), and they’ll take care of you,” David said.

Read more about 100 years of Picchioni's IGA here.

70 Years: Young's Payless IGA

Young's Payless IGA celebrated their 70 years in business last year, which led Owner Kevin Young to reflect on the moments that got them to this milestone, including one decision that would not have led him here: when he almost sold the store to Family Dollar in 2013.

“They contacted us about our Pioneer location and threatened to build across the street if we didn’t sell them our business,” Young recalled.

At the time, Young thought it would be in their best interest to sell to the store. But the town’s residents had different plans since their local grocer means so much to them.

“Shortly after our community got wind of us being in escrow with Family Dollar, they formed a task force and collected thousands of signatures and contacted the media,” Young said. “In essence, they pushed Family Dollar out of the small community of Pioneer.”

That community effort and passion drove home the importance of remaining an independent to Young, and all that goes with it: giving back, community involvement, and being hometown proud. 10 years after deciding not to sell, Young intends to remain independent. After all, it's in his DNA. 

Like most children of grocers, Young remembers getting involved as early as eight years old. He started as a bag boy and then moved to courtesy clerk and other duties. Young was put on payroll at 12 years old.

Today, he is the third-generation owner and operates three Young’s Payless IGA locations and three Ace Hardware stores in central California. All stores are located in rural farming communities that have maintained the same identity throughout the years.

Young does everything to keep his store fresh and relevant. He’s implemented timely practices like digital marketing, digital couponing, and upgrading the point-of-sale systems every three to five years. The store won the 2023 Digital Pioneer Award for their excellence in digital advertising optimization through IGA’s local digital ad platform.

Learn what keeps Young's Payless IGA ahead of the competition and how they celebrated their 70th anniversary here.

33 Years: Rivertown IGA

For the team at Rivertown IGA in New Richmond, Ohio, celebrating the store's 33rd anniversary came amidst new ownership. In 2022, former owner Ray Dietrich retired, passing the store on to current owner Lance Sizemore.

It was a tough decision, but Dietrich knew the path forward. 

"The store needs a young and ambitious individual to carry on the business of Rivertown IGA, and I think I've got just the man," Dietrich said about new owner Lance Sizemore in his video address, adding, "He cares about the customers, he cares about customer service. I know he'll take care of the people that work here."

For this anniversary, Sizemore celebrated Rivertown's legacy with his first big "blowout sale," with several items selling as low as $0.33. The celebration was a success, with store sales up 40% from the same day last year and selling roughly 650 of those sale items.

Sizemore was confident in the approach, as he has used similar pricing strategies in his other businesses that proved to be successful. The store advertised with their New Year’s Blow Out Sale flyer in print and on digital channels.

Sizemore has been busy since taking over, and is grateful for the team and customers.

“I definitely inherited a very good team here – very strong. It's been fun working with them,” he said, adding, “The customers and the community have been great. The support they give us when there are Kroger's and Walmart's everywhere around and you're still choosing to shop local is appreciated.”

To learn more about Rivertown IGA, including their unique social media videos, click here.

Are you celebrating a milestone this year? We want to feature your store! Contact us here.