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IGA (supermarkets)
Encyclopedia
IGA is a brand of grocery store
s active in more than 30 countries. Contrasting with the chain store
business model, IGA operates as a franchise
through stores that are owned separately from the brand. Many of these stores operate in small town markets and belong to families that manage them. Since its founding in the United States
as the Independent Grocers Alliance, it has expanded into the world's largest voluntary supermarket
chain with more than 5,000 member stores. The headquarters are in O'Hare
, Chicago
, Illinois
.
, and Sharon, Connecticut
, led by J. Frank Grimes, organized themselves into a single marketing
system. This group quickly expanded, and by the end of the year there were more than 150 IGA retailers. In 1930 there were over 8,000 grocery stores using the IGA name. The company uses the "Hometown Proud Supermarkets" slogan. Today, many IGA grocery stores are still located in smaller cities and towns throughout the United States.
The stores in the Alliance remain independently owned and operated. The Alliance oversees several resources shared among the member stores. These include, most visibly, the IGA store brand
products and the logistical
network that distributes them. The Alliance also provides training and assessment programs and an online advertising platform. It regularly coordinates promotional events and charity
fundraising
events that benefit store communities.
, other than British Columbia
, IGA is a group of independent grocers supplied by Sobeys
, which franchises the name. Acquired by Sobeys as part of its purchase of The Oshawa Group
Ltd., it now operates primarily in Quebec
. The IGA operations in Atlantic Canada
were sold to Loblaw Companies Limited and were restructured under its existing brands, while its company-owned stores west of Quebec now mainly operate under the Sobeys banner. In Ontario, Sobeys forced franchise owned IGA stores onto the Foodland program, and announced the upcoming closure of the IGA program in Ontario. There are, however, many IGA stores still operating in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
IGA Extra locations are larger and carry a wider variety of general merchandise, more akin to the hypermarket
model. They include a pharmacy
, large bakery
, a bank
, a bistro
, a post office
and a larger selection of food
items.
In addition, IGA in Quebec also operates smaller supermarkets, such as Bonichoix and Tradition (a branding introduced in 1999
).
In British Columbia, IGA and Marketplace IGA stores are, for the most part, independently owned and are supplied by the H. Y. Louie Co.
n supermarkets Woolworths/Safeway and Coles
.
In Western Australia On May 1, 2006, IGA grew to include Dewsons, Action and SupaValu after Foodland Associated Limited has sold to (Metcash IGA Distribution Pty Ltd).
Grocery store
A grocery store is a store that retails food. A grocer, the owner of a grocery store, stocks different kinds of foods from assorted places and cultures, and sells these "groceries" to customers. Large grocery stores that stock products other than food, such as clothing or household items, are...
s active in more than 30 countries. Contrasting with the chain store
Chain store
Chain stores are retail outlets that share a brand and central management, and usually have standardized business methods and practices. These characteristics also apply to chain restaurants and some service-oriented chain businesses. In retail, dining and many service categories, chain businesses...
business model, IGA operates as a franchise
Franchising
Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
through stores that are owned separately from the brand. Many of these stores operate in small town markets and belong to families that manage them. Since its founding in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as the Independent Grocers Alliance, it has expanded into the world's largest voluntary supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
chain with more than 5,000 member stores. The headquarters are in O'Hare
O'Hare, Chicago
O'Hare, located on the far northwest side of Chicago, Illinois, is one of the city's 77 official community areas. O'Hare International Airport is located within the boundaries of this community area...
, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
.
United States
IGA was started in May 1926 when a group of 100 independent retailers in Poughkeepsie, New YorkPoughkeepsie (city), New York
Poughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, United States, which serves as the county seat of Dutchess County. Poughkeepsie is located in the Hudson River Valley midway between New York City and Albany...
, and Sharon, Connecticut
Sharon, Connecticut
Sharon is a town located in Litchfield County, Connecticut, in the northwest corner of the state. It is bounded on the north by Salisbury, on the east by the Housatonic River, on the south by Kent, and on the west by Dutchess County, New York...
, led by J. Frank Grimes, organized themselves into a single marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
system. This group quickly expanded, and by the end of the year there were more than 150 IGA retailers. In 1930 there were over 8,000 grocery stores using the IGA name. The company uses the "Hometown Proud Supermarkets" slogan. Today, many IGA grocery stores are still located in smaller cities and towns throughout the United States.
The stores in the Alliance remain independently owned and operated. The Alliance oversees several resources shared among the member stores. These include, most visibly, the IGA store brand
Store brand
Store brands are a line of products sold by a retailer under a single marketing identity. They bear a similarity to the concept of House brands, Private label brands in the United States, own brands in the UK, and home brands in Australia and generic brands...
products and the logistical
Logistics
Logistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
network that distributes them. The Alliance also provides training and assessment programs and an online advertising platform. It regularly coordinates promotional events and charity
Charity (practice)
The practice of charity means the voluntary giving of help to those in need who are not related to the giver.- Etymology :The word "charity" entered the English language through the Old French word "charité" which was derived from the Latin "caritas".Originally in Latin the word caritas meant...
fundraising
Fundraising
Fundraising or fund raising is the process of soliciting and gathering voluntary contributions as money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies...
events that benefit store communities.
Canada
In CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, other than British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, IGA is a group of independent grocers supplied by Sobeys
Sobeys
Sobeys is the second largest food retailer in Canada, with over 1,300 supermarkets operating under a variety of banners. Headquartered in Stellarton, Nova Scotia, it operates stores in all ten provinces and accumulated sales of more than $14 billion CAD in 2009...
, which franchises the name. Acquired by Sobeys as part of its purchase of The Oshawa Group
Oshawa Group
Oshawa Group was once a leading owner of supermarkets in Ontario, but it was sold to Sobeys in 1998.Stores under Oshawa Group included:* IGA* Tradition Market Fresh Food* Knechtel* Pharma Plus Drug Stores...
Ltd., it now operates primarily in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. The IGA operations in Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
were sold to Loblaw Companies Limited and were restructured under its existing brands, while its company-owned stores west of Quebec now mainly operate under the Sobeys banner. In Ontario, Sobeys forced franchise owned IGA stores onto the Foodland program, and announced the upcoming closure of the IGA program in Ontario. There are, however, many IGA stores still operating in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
IGA Extra locations are larger and carry a wider variety of general merchandise, more akin to the hypermarket
Hypermarket
In commerce, a hypermarket is a superstore combining a supermarket and a department store. The result is an expansive retail facility carrying a wide range of products under one roof, including full groceries lines and general merchandise...
model. They include a pharmacy
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
, large bakery
Bakery
A bakery is an establishment which produces and sells flour-based food baked in an oven such as bread, cakes, pastries and pies. Some retail bakeries are also cafés, serving coffee and tea to customers who wish to consume the baked goods on the premises.-See also:*Baker*Cake...
, a bank
Bank
A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...
, a bistro
Bistro
A bistro, sometimes spelled bistrot, is, in its original Parisian incarnation, a small restaurant serving moderately priced simple meals in a modest setting. Bistros are defined mostly by the foods they serve. Home cooking with robust earthy dishes, and slow-cooked foods like cassoulet are typical...
, a post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
and a larger selection of food
Food
Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
items.
In addition, IGA in Quebec also operates smaller supermarkets, such as Bonichoix and Tradition (a branding introduced in 1999
1999 in Canada
Events from the year 1999 in Canada.-January to June:*January 1 - An avalanche destroys a school gymnasium during New Year's celebrations in Kangguspoo in far northern Quebec, killing 9.*February 9 - Brian Tobin's Liberals are re-elected in Newfoundland...
).
In British Columbia, IGA and Marketplace IGA stores are, for the most part, independently owned and are supplied by the H. Y. Louie Co.
Australia
The "Independent Grocers of Australia" brand is owned by Metcash, a South African-based retailer and wholesaler. This company supplies groceries, promotional materials and other things to a large number of locally owned Australian supermarkets, and a few smaller chains. Collectively, they are a competitor to major AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n supermarkets Woolworths/Safeway and Coles
Coles Supermarkets
Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741 stores nationally Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741 stores nationally Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741...
.
In Western Australia On May 1, 2006, IGA grew to include Dewsons, Action and SupaValu after Foodland Associated Limited has sold to (Metcash IGA Distribution Pty Ltd).
See also
- List of Canadian supermarketsSupermarkets in CanadaThis is a list of supermarket chains in Canada. For supermarkets operating in other countries, see List of supermarkets.-Major chains:*Costco*Jim Pattison Group operates**Bulkley Valley Wholesale**Buy-Low Foods**Cooper's Foods...