LAS VEGAS, 2017-Feb-16 — /EPR Retail News/ — IGA today (Feb. 13, 2017) announced four independent retailers from around the globe were named 2017 IGA International Retailers of the Year during the IGA Awards of Excellence Brunch on Sunday, Feb. 12 at the IGA Global Rally, held at the Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas Feb. 10 through 12.
The IGA 2017 International Retailer of the Year Awards were bestowed upon the IGA retailers 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 to lead the way in the coming year as IGA works to advance both our shopper experience and our brand as a whole.
The winning retailers are:
Kurt Rodhe
2017 IGA USA International Retailer of the Year
Rodhe’s IGA Marketplace
Millersburg, Ohio
Serviced by: Merchants Distributors, LLC
Kurt Rodhe is a third generation IGA retailer, making Rodhe’s IGA one of the longest standing IGA stores in the world. For the past 83 years the Rodhe family has been redefining the grocery experience in Millersburg, Ohio by anticipating shoppers’ evolving needs and exceeding expectations. In keeping with their tradition of progressive retailing, Kurt recently placed a focus on health, expanding the store’s wellness product offering and marketing with the help of a full-time certified natural health professional. This successful strategy boosted sales throughout the store, and made Rodhe’s IGA a destination location in northeastern Ohio.
Nick Chapley
2017 IGA Australia International Retailer of the Year
Frewville Foodland IGA
Frewville, South Australia, Australia
Serviced by: Metcash Food & Grocery
Nick Chapley, an IGA member since 1989, is owner of two retail locations. Award-winning Frewville IGA was 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, cheese bar and readily available fresh seafood, a health-and-wellness section, and Mr. Nick’s Kitchen and Coffee bar.
Weilong Li
2017 IGA China International Retailer of the Year
Xinglong Happy Family Business Group Co., Ltd.
Shen Yang, Liaoning 110180, China
Weilong Li has been in business in China’s northeast region for 24 years, and in that time has grown his operation to include 35 IGA hypermarkets and 50,000 employees. He credits IGA Coca-Cola Institute training with rapidly improving his store’s customer service, and putting him well on his way to his ultimate goal: Becoming China’s Business version of Disney.
James Kelly
2017 IGA Australia International Retailer of the Year
Taylor Rd IGA
Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
Serviced by: Metcash Food & Grocery
James Kelly’s 15,000 square-foot Talyor Rd IGA is known for innovative offerings and service. From providing freshly prepared specialty sausages, house-made tortillas, and duffins, a donut/muffin hybrid, to delivering ready-to-eat meals created by in-house gourmet chefs, this award-winning retailer lives up to his motto: ‘for the love of food.”
About IGA
IGA is the world’s largest voluntary supermarket network with aggregate worldwide retail sales of more than $36 billion per year. The Alliance includes nearly 5,000 Hometown Proud Supermarkets worldwide, supported by 29 distribution centers and more than 30 major manufacturers, vendors and suppliers encompassing everything from grocery to equipment items. IGA has stores in 45 of the United States and more than 30 countries, commonwealths and territories. For more information about IGA, visit the IGA consumer website at www.iga.com, or the business site at www.becomeiga.com.
Contact:
Phone: (773) 693-4520
Fax: (773) 693-4533
Source: IGA