IGA this week honored four independent retailers from around the globe as 2016 IGA International Retailers of the Year. The announcement was made during the IGA 90th Anniversary Diamond Celebration at IGA WorldWide, which was held at The Mirage in Las Vegas.
Among the winners is Tyler Myers, who was recognized as the IGA USA International Retailer of the Year for his Juneau Foodland IGA store in Juneau, Alaska. The store is serviced by Supervalu.
Myers is a second-generation president and CEO of Seattle-based 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 s.f. of space, including an ACE Hardware store, a pharmacy, expanded grocery departments and other categories. The store is now 57,696 s.f. and has been remodeled from floor to ceiling. Under Myers’ management, Juneau Foodland IGA has seen a 45 percent sales increase, a 30 percent increase in customer count and the downtown community is on a path to revitalization.
“We are very proud of all that we have accomplished with Juneau Foodland IGA, but it all started with the focus on the IGA philosophy and programs first,” Tyler Myers said. “Our Juneau team couldn’t be more excited to continue the Hometown Proud legacy. Yes, you must have a profitable business to exist, but taking care of your community, your customers and your employees is how we should all hope to be remembered. I am honored to be recognized as IGA USA International Retailer of the Year and accept this award on behalf of my entire Myers Group team.”
The IGA 2016 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.
*Editor’s note: Myers was featured in The Shelby Report’s 2015 Washington Market Profile, which appeared in the June print edition of The Shelby Report of the West.
The other winning retailers are:
• Nick & Spero Chapley
2016 IGA Australia International Retailer of the Year
Frewville Foodland IGA
Frewville, South Australia, Australia
Serviced by: Metcash Food & Grocery
• Shiquan Shen
2016 IGA China International Retailer of the Year
Ximay Homay Business Co. Ltd.
Xinyang, China
• 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.
Read more about each of the finalists here.
“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.”
