IGA Turns 100! How We're Celebrating...

We're nearly a month into 2026 and that means it's officially the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Independent Grocers Alliance, familiarly known as IGA.

"We wouldn't be here today without our retailers, wholesalers, partners, and most importantly, our shoppers," Senior Vice President of Marketing & Public Affairs Ashley Page said. "So we organized a year's worth of events that celebrates each of them."

Keep reading for details on each of those events and mark your calendars!

The Foundation

A.F. Geissler in 1923. Geissler's Supermarkets is still proudly independent since 1923!

U.S. grocery chains began to thrive in the 1920s. The company that would later be known as A&P was aggressively expanding their stores nationwide, trying to replace the local hometown grocery store with cookie cutter chains. By the middle of the decade, it looked as if they might just succeed.

J. Frank Grimes, a Chicago accountant who specialized in wholesale grocery accounts, decided it was time to act. He set out to form a union of independent grocers who would take advantage of volume buying and mass marketing, giving them the resources they needed to compete with a growing chain store presence. He spent most of 1925 traveling the country to recruit retail members while galvanizing support from manufacturers and wholesalers. His message of unity alongside of independent individuality was warmly received, and in the spring of 1926, the Independent Grocers Alliance was born.

Nearly 100 years later A&P is gone, and IGA — as a brand and as an alliance of retailer, wholesaler, and manufacturing and vendor partners — is still going strong. Today we have more than 7,500 member stores globally, each working to serve their communities with entrepreneurial ingenuity and unwavering dedication.

Kicking Off the Celebration at The NGA Show 2026

The NGA Show in Partnership with IGA will be held at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

📅 February 1-3, 2026
📍 Las Vegas, Nevada

Every journey has a starting line, and ours begins in Las Vegas at The NGA Show 2026. It’s fitting that our centennial kicks off at the premier gathering of independent grocers, where innovation meets tradition.

The NGA Show, in partnership with IGA, will feature IGA-specific workshops, keynote presentations from IGA leadership, and opportunities to connect with and learn from fellow retailers and industry suppliers.

Sunday, February 1 6:15-8:15 p.m. Welcome Reception & IGA 100th Anniversary Celebration

Join the Welcome Reception and IGA's 100th Anniversary Celebration in the Grand Ballroom pre-function space for a 1920s-themed reception where we will kick off our centennial year at The NGA Show.

Be the first to congratulate our Centennial IGA USA Retailers of the Year, who will be announced at this reception. This remarkable group of retailers, nominated by our U.S. Licensed Distribution Centers (LDCs), represent the best independent retailers of the last 100 years, and this reception is the first of several events designed to honor their contribution to the industry, culminating at the Awards Gala in Atlanta, Georgia in September 2026.

Shopper Giveaway: In It For The Long Haul

📆 July 15-September 8, 2026

We're thanking the shoppers that support our stores with In It For The Long Haul, a sweepstakes rooted in what has always defined our stores: showing up for our communities. For generations, independent IGA grocers have been there for life’s everyday moments and its hardest ones, and today, that role matters more than ever.

This year, we're giving away truckloads of groceries, offering real help to families and reinforcing the impact of local, independent grocers. This celebration isn’t just about looking back, it’s about proving we’re still here for our neighbors, and committed to the next 100 years. Look for more details in the coming months in The IGA Minute.

The Grand Celebration: The Centennial Global Rally & Awards Gala

IGA's Centennial Awards of Excellence Gala will be held amongst marine life at the Georgia Aquarium.

📅 September 17-19, 2026
📍 Atlanta, Georgia

In the fall of 2026, we’ll mark IGA’s 100th anniversary with a once-in-a-lifetime celebration: The Centennial Global Rally & Awards Gala in Atlanta, Georgia.

Picture this: Hundreds of IGA members from around the world gathering together — connecting, learning, laughing, and celebrating a century of IGA excellence.

September 17

IGA Centennial Global Rally Opening Reception | The Signia Hotel

Kick off the grand celebration with an opening reception at The Signia Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, as we serve up drinks and hors d'oeuvres at the official hotel of the IGA Centennial Global Rally.

September 18

Global Rally Education Sessions | Coca-Cola Headquarters

Find inspiration and insights during engaging education sessions and a vendor showcase during the day at Coca-Cola’s world-famous headquarters.

IGA Speakeasy Bash | City Winery

That evening, wine and dine at an unforgettable speakeasy-themed bash honoring IGA heritage at Atlanta's City Winery where you'll enjoy signature cocktails, wine, and beer with a buffet dinner, listen to live music, and participate in whiskey tastings with fellow retailers, wholesalers, and partners.

September 19

IGA Breakfast | Signia Hotel & Atlanta Daytrip Adventures | Atlanta

Kick off the morning with breakfast at the Signia Hotel, then choose your adventure:

1. Get a glimpse of Atlanta’s retailing excellence with guided store tours
2. Spend a day at the Georgia Aquarium
3. Visit the World of Coca-Cola Museum

IGA Centennial Awards of Excellence Gala | Georgia Aquarium

Wrap up the 3-day celebration with our IGA Centennial Awards of Excellence Gala honoring our Retailers of the Year and other global award winners at the Georgia Aquarium. It's a milestone, a reunion, and a global party all rolled into one. Registration will open in a few weeks, so look for your official invitation in The IGA Minute.

The Independent Grocers Alliance is more than an organization, it’s a community. And that community wouldn’t exist without you. As we turn 100, we invite you to celebrate not just IGA’s legacy, but your role in it.