Last updated on December 9th, 2022 at 05:06 pm
The Independent Grocers Alliance has named nine members as the 2023 Retailers of the Year. The grocery store operators and their teams have been nominated by their wholesalers, placing them among the best of the 30,000 independent grocers in the U.S.
The awards are the highest honors the association gives to its retailer members. They are presented annually to grocers that have best provided leadership and excellence in their communities.
The 2023 U.S. Retailers of the Year are:
- Joe Campos – Kingstree IGA – Kingstree, South Carolina
- Distributor: W. Lee Flowers and Co.
- Tate Cox – Cox Foods IGA – Jackson, Kentucky
- Distributor: Laurel Grocery Company
- John Hallinan – The Richmond Shops IGA – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Distributor: Bozzuto’s
- Rich Hoffman – Sky Plaza IGA – Garrettsville, Ohio
- Distributor: SpartanNash
- Paul Matovich – Columbus IGA Plus – Columbus, Montana
- Distributor: UNFI
- Jimmy Perkins – Hometown IGA – Jasper, Indiana
- Distributor: Houchens Food Industries
- Rob Rowe – Rowe’s IGA Baymeadows – Jacksonville, Florida
- Distributor: Merchant Distributors, Inc.
- Mike and Sharlene Spires – Spires IGA Supermarket – Lake Butler, Florida
- Distributor: Ira Higdon Grocery Company
- Tyler Trask – Granite Falls IGA – Granite Falls, Washington
- Distributor: C&S Wholesalers
“The 2023 Retailers of the Year exemplify the facets of being a prosperous community grocer that deliver local and fresh products,” said John Ross, CEO. “They have also established meaningful relationships within their communities and display outstanding leadership qualities as employers. We are proud to honor them for these achievements.”
Ross, SVP of Retail and Business Development Doug Fritsch and National Retailer Advisory Board President and 2020 International Retailer of the Year Bob Rybick will visit each store in January to get a feel for how the retailer interacts with employees, customers and the community.
Based on information gathered during these store visits, each retailer will receive additional recognition for their accomplishments on stage Feb. 27 at the IGA Awards of Excellence Ceremony.
Held in Las Vegas, Nevada, during The NGA Show, the Awards of Excellence Ceremony will recognize fellow retailers from other countries, in addition to select Red Oval partners and wholesalers. At the ceremony, one of the IGA USA Retailers of the Year will be named IGA USA International Retailer of the Year.
For more association news from The Shelby Report, click here.
