IGA LICENSES LAWRENCE BROTHERS SUPERMARKETS' 20 STORES IN TEXAS AND NEW MEXICO

CHICAGO, IL - IGA today announced Lawrence Brothers Supermarkets, a family owned and operated store group with 18 stores in Texas and two in New Mexico, has officially rejoined the IGA Family. Lawrence Brothers stores are serviced by IGA Licensed Distribution Company (LDC) Associated Wholesale Grocers. This licensing is part of a planned IGA expansion made possible by AWG’s acquisition of the Fort Worth, Texas, warehouse in June of last year.

Lawrence Brothers stores have a long history in the independent grocery channel beginning in 1929 when J.M. Lawrence opened his first grocery store in Sweetwater, Texas. Over the years, J. M. Lawrence, his sons Jere and Tere and later his grandsons Jay and Kyle, opened and operated numerous stores throughout the West Texas area. Today the 20 store company is led by Chairman Jere Lawrence and Jere’s eldest son Jay, who is President of Lawrence Brothers. Also involved is Neal Hoover, Jay’s brother-in-law, who is a part owner and controller for the company.

Lawrence Brothers first joined IGA in 1986 and for nearly 17 years operated its family business as proud members of the IGA Alliance. AWG’s newest distribution center in Fort Worth brings the IGA banner back to the Texas market providing the Lawrences and other independent retailers the opportunity to join IGA.

“IGA and Lawrence Brothers share a common philosophy about the importance of community involvement, customer service, and family business,” Jay Lawrence, president of Lawrence Brothers said. “IGA and Lawrence Brothers have always been a good fit and we are very pleased to again be a part of the Alliance.”

According to AWG Executive Vice President Jerry Garland, IGA is the largest national banner that the company supports. With the addition of the Lawrence Brothers stores, AWG now supplies 81 IGA locations in the South and Midwest.

“Lawrence Brothers has a reputation in the industry as a thriving family-run independent,” Garland said. “The licensing of the company’s 20 stores is a solid step forward in our plan for IGA and AWG to grow together in the Texas and Oklahoma areas. We look forward to serving Lawrence Brothers for many years to come. ”

IGA USA Chairman, President and CEO Mark Batenic agreed. “Texas and Oklahoma were once strongholds for the IGA system, and Lawrence Brothers IGA was known as one of the area’s top retail groups,” he said. “The Lawrences’ return to IGA is a strong example of the fact that IGA is reenergized and on the move. We welcome Lawrence Brothers back to the IGA family and look forward to introducing them to the many new programs IGA has to offer its retailers.”

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.