IGA has announced four independent retailers from around the global as their IGA International Retailers of the Year during the IGA 90th Anniversary Diamond Celebration on Monday, Feb. 29 at IGA WorldWide, being held at the Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas Feb. 27 through March
The IGA 2015 International Retailer of the Year Awards are bestowed upon the IGA retailers from around the world who, based on IGA’s globally applied standards, have achieved exemplary excellence in retailing and advancement of the IGA Brand.
“The commitment these IGA International Retailers of the Year have made to their customers, their community, their associates and the IGA Alliance is an inspiration to us all,” IGA CEO Mark Batenic said. “We couldn’t have asked for a better group of retailers in our 90th year to represent the passion and dedication that is the hallmark of the IGA brand. Congratulations to our outstanding IGA International Retailers of the Year, and happy 90th anniversary IGA!”
The winning retailers are:
Tyler Myers
IGA USA International Retailer of the Year
Juneau Foodland IGA
Juneau, Alaska
Serviced by: SUPERVALU INC
Tyler Myers is a second-generation president and CEO of The Myers Group, which was founded in 1978. Myers owns and operates six IGA stores in the Pacific Northwest, including the award-winning IGA store in Juneau, Alaska.
Myers purchased the Juneau store in August 2012, when the previous owner was in the process of liquidating all inventory and laying-off all 90 employees. Myers hired back 100 percent of the existing employees, opened the store as Foodland IGA, and began a major remodel that added 13,600 square-feet of space, including an ACE Hardware store, a pharmacy, expanded grocery departments and other categories. The store is now 57,696 square-feet and has been completely remodeled from floor to ceiling. Under Myers’ management, Juneau Foodland IGA has now seen a 45 percent sales increase, a 30 percent increase in customer count, and the downtown community is on a path to revitalization.
Nick & Spero Chapley
2016 IGA Australia International Retailer of the Year
Frewville Foodland IGA
Frewville, South Australia, Australia
Serviced by: Metcash Food & Grocery
Nick and Spero Chapley, IGA members since 1989, are owners of two retailer locations. Award-winning Frewville IGA is Australia’s first certified organic supermarket, with one of the largest ranges of fresh produce in the state. The 3,100 square-meter store also includes prepared foods, a meat servery, bakery, cheesebar and readily available fresh seafood, a health-and-wellness section, and Mr. Nick’s Kitchen and Coffee bar.
Spero Chapley is founder and chairman of Youth Inc., an organization that assists disadvantaged youth in South Australia through a range of innovative leadership, employment and enterprise education programs.
“We’re delighted that our Frewville Foodland IGA store has been recognised on the international stage,” Nick Chapley said. “As an independent retailer, customer service is at the heart of our success along with continual in-store innovation and having one of the largest ranges of fresh produce in South Australia. We are known in our community for our unique product range, including brands our customers love—a wide range of local and organic produce, cultural and gourmet ingredients as well as a bakery, cheesebar and readily available fresh seafood.”
Shiquan Shen
2016 IGA China International Retailer of the Year
Ximay Homay Business Co., Ltd.
Xinyang, China
Shiquan Shen founded Ximay Homay Business Co., Ltd., in 1995, and joined IGA in November of 2006. With over 10,000 employees, the company’s IGA stores range in format from supermarkets, hypermarkets, to convenience chain stores. At present, the company has 17 shopping centers, 76 chain stores, as well as a distribution center with an area of 40,000 square-meters. This is the second time Shen has won the IGA Retailer of the Year award. He was first honored in 2012.
Martin Dorville
2016 IGA Caribbean International Retailer of the Year
Super J IGA
Choc Estate, Castries, Saint Lucia
Serviced by: Associated Grocers of Florida, Inc.
Martin Dorville is owner of nine Super J IGA stores, controlling 60 percent of St. Lucia’s market share. The brand, which was created when two supermarket chains merged to form Super J IGA supermarkets, collectively has 56 years of retail experience and has been IGA since 2004.
The stores range from 7000 – 17,000 square-feet, and offer service and amenities that include delis, fresh meat options, pharmacies, cash dispensers, utility bill payment services, and a range of other conveniences. They also support IGA’s community focus with Super J IGA’s Unity in Community, where Super J’s 300-plus volunteers work alongside the community on programs to support youth development, sports, health-and-wellness, and the environment.