GRACEWAY IGA NAMED 2008 IGA CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL RETAILER OF THE YEAR

CHICAGO, IL - IGA Global today announced that Graceway IGA Turks and Caicos, has been named 2008 IGA Caribbean International Retailer of the Year for having achieved a superior level of excellence in IGA retailing as judged by IGA’s Global standards. The award will be accepted on behalf of the store by Edith Cox who will be honored at the 2008 IGA Global Summit Awards Banquet held in Carefree, Ariz., Mar. 29.

Edith Cox has been integrally involved in the development of the Graceway IGA. She was hired in February 2001 as Finance Director and was promoted to her current position as Chief Financial Officer. Under her direction and that of manager Richard Vara, the recently remodeled Graceway IGA store has undergone a major expansion of the bakery-deli department and added a new wine department. Additionally, Cox and shareholder Clive Stanbrook, have kept the company focused on community activism making Graceway IGA an established contributor to the local community by providing a home for the National Football Association and together with other business people on the island, building the islands first Sports Centre. They are also regular contributors to schools, church groups and community organizations across the TCI, and to local events, including the Annual Music Festival, Conch Festival and Friends of the Arts.

“Edith Cox’s and the management team’s unwavering commitment to providing only the best in quality, service, and value has made Graceway IGA the preferred place to shop in Turks and Caicos for citizens and tourists alike,” IGA Global CEO Dr. Thomas Haggai said. “We’re proud of Edith and the stores accomplishments and their unwavering dedication to her community, and pleased to bestow upon her and her store this prestigious global honor.” ”
       

IGA is the world’s largest voluntary supermarket network with aggregate worldwide retail sales of more than $21 billion per year. The Alliance includes nearly 4,000 Hometown Proud Supermarkets worldwide, supported by 36 distribution companies and more than 55 major manufacturers, vendors and suppliers encompassing everything from grocery to equipment items. IGA has operations in 46 of the United States and more than 40 countries, commonwealths and territories on all six inhabited continents.