IGA NAMES SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MARKETING MANAGER

CHICAGO, IL - IGA and IGW, LLC, a coalition of IGA store owners in IGA’s Southwest region, announced today that industry executive Kendall Hanshaw has been named IGA southern California marketing manager.

Hanshaw, who began the position in early September, is responsible for the development of marketing strategies of IGA stores throughout southern California. His duties entail the management of ads and promotional activities concerning new and existing products.

“I’m thrilled to be working so closely with such a dedicated group of retailers,” Hanshaw said. “The fact remains these guys are the owners of these stores and I’m working for them. My job is to provide some direction for them so that we’re all heading down the same path and working together. Doing that allows us to achieve the results of a chain store, but maintain the autonomy of an independent. That’s the whole theory behind IGA.”

Hanshaw spent the majority of his 32 year career working in various positions within Ralph’s Grocery Company, the largest supermarket operator in southern California. Throughout his tenure with the company, Hanshaw occupied various executive level positions, including vice president of the dairy/deli division from 1981-2000, and vice president of special projects from 2000-2002. During both positions, Hanshaw worked with other members of upper management to create a coordinated approach to the company’s promotions and advertising.

“We’re incredibly pleased to have someone with Ken Hanshaw’s reputation and experience working to develop our marketing strategies,” said IGA President and CEO Dr. Thomas S. Haggai. “Ken is held in extremely high regard by our IGA Retailers in southern California, and we feel his efforts will provide the framework needed for our independent retailers to remain successful in California’s increasingly competitive environment.”

IGA, the only global supermarketer based in the United States, is the world’s largest voluntary supermarket network with aggregate worldwide retail sales of more than $21 billion per year. The Alliance includes more than 4,000 Hometown Proud Supermarkets worldwide, supported by 36 distribution companies and more the 55 major manufacturers, vendors and suppliers encompassing everything from grocery to equipment items. IGA ranks in the top 10 in world food supermarketing. IGA has operations in 48 of the United States and more than 40 countries, commonwealths and territories on all six inhabited continents.