IGA (SUPERMARKETS)

'IGA' is a name used by many independent grocery stores throughout the world. It has since expanded to the world's largest voluntary supermarket chain, where the IGA banner is licensed in 45 countries and territories to over 4000 independent supermarkets served by 37 independent distributors.

Contents

United States

Canada

Quebec

Australia

External links

United States

IGA, 'Independent Grocers Alliance', was started in the United States in May of 1926 when a group of 100 independent retailers in Poughkeepsie, New York, and Sharon, Connecticut, led by J. Frank Grimes, began operating as the Independent Grocers Alliance. This group quickly expanded and by the end of the year, there were more than 150 IGA retailers. In 1930 there were over 8000 grocery stores licensed with the IGA name. The company uses the "Hometown Proud Supermarkets" slogan.
Bozzutos is a major Licensed Distributor to IGA retailers in the Northeastern USA.[1]
C&S Wholesale is a major Licensed Distributor to IGA retailers in Northern California.

Canada

In Canada, 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. The stores in Canada also collect Air Miles points.
In British Columbia, Marketplace IGA stores are owned by the H. Y. Louie Co.^[1]

Quebec

In the Canadian province of Quebec IGA stores are larger and carrier a wider variety of merchandise. Many of these stores are known as ''IGA Extra''.
For article on these stores, please see: IGA (Quebec).

Australia

Main articles: Independent Grocers of Australia

Independent Grocers of Australia is a union of independent Australian supermarkets trading under a single name affiliated with IGA in the United States. They are an alternative to the main Australian supermarkets Woolworths/Safeway and Coles.
On May 1, 2006, IGA grew to include locally owned supermarkets around Australia, including Dewsons, 'Action' and SupaValu.

External links

★ IGA USA

★ IGA Canada (Ontario and Western Canada)

★ IGA Canada (Quebec)

★ IGA Australia