When IGA set out to choose a location worthy of marking 100 years of independent grocery, the search led to a city with its own century-plus legacy of building something from nothing but a good idea and a lot of grit: Atlanta.
Independent Grocery, Atlanta-Style
Atlanta isn't just hosting the Centennial Global Rally & Awards Gala — it's a city that lives and breathes the independent grocer story.
Just look at Azalea Fresh Market, a municipally backed grocery store born from a partnership between the City of Atlanta, Invest Atlanta, IGA, and Savi Provisions to bring fresh, full-service grocery access to an underserved neighborhood. Or Nam Dae Mun Farmers Market, which Korean immigrants Kim and Kipyo Hong started so their community could find the specialty produce and ingredients they couldn't get anywhere else — opening its first store in Duluth in 2005 and growing into one of metro Atlanta's go-to destinations for international groceries.
Different neighborhoods, different missions, same independent spirit: identify what a community needs, and build the store that delivers it. Rally attendees don't have to take our word for it, either — the Rally's Choose Your Adventure lineup includes guided store tours, giving you a firsthand glimpse of Atlanta's retailing excellence.
Coca-Cola: A Global Icon, Born in Atlanta
No brand embodies that same entrepreneurial spirit more than our Centennial Diamond Sponsor, Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola was created by Dr. John Pemberton in Atlanta in 1886, with the first glass poured at Jacobs' Pharmacy in downtown Atlanta. Atlanta businessman Asa Candler began acquiring the rights to the formula in 1888 and founded The Coca-Cola Company in 1892 as a Georgia corporation.
More than 130 years later, Coca-Cola remains headquartered in Atlanta, and the city still marks the spot where it all began. Visitors to Atlanta can even experience that history firsthand: the World of Coca-Cola downtown offers memorabilia dating to 1886, the Vault of the Secret Formula, and a tasting room featuring products from around the world.
It's a story that will feel familiar to independent grocers: a single idea, tested and refined locally, that grew into something with staying power.
A Business Session Inside the Walls Where It All Began
Fittingly, the Centennial Rally's Business Session on September 18 will convene inside Coca-Cola's own headquarters — putting retailers in the room where one of the world's biggest brands built its legacy, for a day focused on building the next chapter of independent grocery.
The agenda is built around a simple premise: the shifts reshaping grocery — in demographics, technology, and shopper behavior — aren't a threat to independent retailers. They're an opening.
It's a packed day, but the thread running through it is simple: retailers will walk away with a sharper read on their shopper and a clearer plan for what comes next — steps away from where Coca-Cola's own story started with a single idea and a single storefront.
Read more about the Business Session here.
What Awaits You in Atlanta
Networking. Connect with fellow independent grocers who understand your business because they live it every day. You'll network with IGA members, industry partners, and thought leaders from across the globe — exchanging ideas, sharing best practices, and learning what's working in stores like yours. These connections don't just strengthen your network; they help spark new opportunities to grow, innovate, and succeed independently, together.
Inspiration & Learning. Reignite the passion behind independent grocery. Through engaging education sessions, peer-driven discussions, and real stories from grocers like you, you'll gain fresh ideas and leave energized, confident, and ready to take on new challenges in your store and community.
Celebration. From a festive opening reception and inspiring sessions at iconic venues to unforgettable Atlanta experiences and a speakeasy-style bash honoring IGA heritage, we're celebrating 100 years in style. The celebration culminates with the IGA Centennial Awards of Excellence Gala at the Georgia Aquarium, recognizing the retailers and partners shaping our global community. More than an event, it's a reunion, a celebration of independence, and a tribute to the grocers who built IGA — and continue to define its future.
Where Legacy Meets What's Next
It's a city where a napkin-sketch idea became a global icon, and where neighborhood grocers are writing their own next chapters — the perfect place for IGA to gather, celebrate, and look ahead to its next century.
Registration is open now at iga100.vfairs.com.