The Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) is proud to name nine members 2023 U.S. Retailers of the Year. These innovative grocery store operators and their teams are leading the charge to move the independent grocery industry forward and have been nominated by their wholesalers as their top retailers, making them among the best of the best 30,000 independents in the U.S.
The 2023 Retailers of the Year are:
- Joe Campos | Kingstree IGA | Kingstree, SC | W. Lee Flowers and Co.
- Tate Cox | Cox Foods IGA | Jackson, KY | Laurel Grocery Company
- John Hallinan | The Richmond Shops IGA | Philadelphia, PA | Bozzuto's
- Rich and Darlene Hoffman | Sky Plaza IGA | Garrettsville, OH | SpartanNash
- Paul, Mike, and Tim Matovich | Columbus IGA Plus | Columbus, MT | UNFI
- Jimmy Perkins | Hometown IGA | Jasper, IN | Houchens Food
- Rob Rowe | Rowe's IGA Baymeadows | Jacksonville, FL | Merchant Distributors, Inc.
- Mike and Sharlene Spires | Spires IGA Supermarket | Lake Butler, FL | Ira Higdon Grocery Company
- Tyler Trask and Tanya Murray | Granite Falls IGA | Granite Falls, WA | C&S Wholesalers
The Retailer of the Year awards are the highest honors IGA bestows upon its retailer members. They are presented annually to grocers who have best provided leadership and excellence in their communities. IGA CEO John Ross, Senior Vice President Retail and Business Development Doug Fritsch, and National Retailer Advisory Board President and 2020 International Retailer of the Year Bob Rybick will visit each store in January 2023 to get a firsthand feel for how the retailer interacts with employees, customers, and the community.
Based on information gathered during the store visits, each IGA USA Retailer of the Year will receive additional recognition for their unique accomplishments such as innovations, community service, etc. on stage at the IGA Awards of Excellence Ceremony on Monday, February 27, 2023. Held in Las Vegas, Nevada during The NGA Show, the Awards of Excellence Ceremony will recognize fellow IGA Retailers of the Year from other countries in addition to select Red Oval partners and wholesalers. At the ceremony, one of the IGA USA Retailers of the Year will be named IGA USA International Retailer of the Year.
Awards of Excellence Ceremony
"With the worst of the pandemic hopefully in the rearview and travel and events returning to normal for most of the world, IGA has the first opportunity in years to bring together our global family to celebrate the accomplishments of our members," IGA CEO John Ross says.
We've waited a long time for this event."
Held on Monday, February 27, 2023 during The NGA Show, where IGA is co-locating to deliver independent retailers one big event complete with education sessions and networking opportunities, the Awards of Excellence Ceremony will be held at Area 15, Las Vegas' premier and vibrant event space.
Following welcome cocktails at the bar, the event will kick off with an update from Ross about IGA's growing global family and guests will enjoy a four-course meal created specifically for IGA by Area 15's renowned chef.
Then the Awards of Excellence ceremony begins, with each U.S. Retailer of the Year and their store(s) recognized on stage, culminating in Ross naming the International Retailer of the Year from the U.S. honorees.
RSVP for the Awards of Excellence Ceremony here.
A Whirlwind Art Installation
Following the ceremony, attendees will move into the Omega Mart exhibit, an immersive art installation that begins in a grocery store and continues in a madcap journey through surreal worlds featuring immersive storytelling and interactive experiences that defy imagination.
If you're a bit puzzled by that description and a lot intrigued, that's the whole point, says The Coca-Cola Company's Brad Morris.
"When John Ross presented us with this idea, he said it's like a grocery store gone wrong, but in a trippy, fun, and unforgettable way. And that's exactly how IGA's Heidi Huff and I found it to be when we visited the site earlier this month. We wanted this event to be a really big deal — something unique and fun for the whole family that would get everyone talking — and Omega Mart is most certainly that."
Have you registered for The NGA Show yet?
If you're ready to celebrate the Retailers of the Year, network with fellow independent grocers and industry partners, and get the latest educational insights on independent grocery retail, be sure to book your trip to Las Vegas Feb. 26-28, 2023.
IGA is co-locating at The NGA Show to present tactics and ideas designed to help all independents stay competitive in their changing marketplace, better serve shoppers, and increase sales. IGA retailers and wholesalers can save $150 off the prevailing rate by using code "IGA."
Register for The NGA Show here.
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