IGA Awards of Excellence Perspective

Delightful Shopping Experiences Everyday at Super J IGA

A message to the Alliance from...
Martin Dorville
Super J IGA
Choc Estate, Castries, St. Lucia
Serviced by: Associated Grocers of Florida, Inc.

In preparation for the 2016 IGA Diamond Anniversary Celebration February 29 at IGA WorldWide, IGA Caribbean International Retailer of the Martin Dorville explains how IGA contributes to his retailing success.

With nine Super J IGA stores conveniently located around the island of St. Lucia, the IGA Red Oval has become synonymous with a delightful shopping experience for a number of reasons.

One of the main drivers behind our success is IGA marketing and promotion. Participation in IGA events, dedicated IGA gondola ends, featured IGA deals in our bi-monthly specials and our own branded Super J IGA loyalty card all add to the rewards customers can expect when they make us their retailer of choice.

Over the years we have also worked hard to meet the ever-changing needs of our customers, equipping our stores with delis, fresh meat options, pharmacies, cash dispensers, utility bill payment services, and a range of other conveniences. Some of the insights and feedback that have allowed us to offer these valued-added services and in some instances requip our stores have come directly through the IGA Online Customer Feedback Programme. In addition, the IGA in-store assessments provide a good gauge on where we are on a range of issues that matter to customers (such as safety, security and cleanliness) and ensure that we remain proactive in dealing with critical matters in a timely manner.

With team members spread across the island, having the IGA Coca-Cola Institute as a partner has created a true competitive advantage. The Institute is a huge resource in our quest to grow and develop the skills, knowledge, and retail operational strength of our team. Our employees truly value the training options available, the extensive array of courses and speak proudly about the skills and knowledge that they continue to acquire.

In fact, our Training department has used this as a platform to highlight and define the career possibilities and potential for many of our team. Interestingly in the last year, one of our team members has been able to complete one hundred and five (105) IGA courses; such an achievement would not have been possible if the training was not available online and accessible anytime. Armed with their IGA courses, our team members are motivated by the endless opportunities to grow and make a difference in a growing retail environment. No doubt the importance we attach to training was one of the contributing factors to the company receiving the award for HR Excellence at the 2014 St. Lucia Business awards.

The amazing quality of our human resource becomes more apparent on matters relating to the community. Two years ago we created the Super J IGA Unity in Community Programme to enhance the commitment that Super J IGA already attached to areas such as youth development, sports, health and wellness and the environment. The beauty of the programme is really about our Super IGA volunteers (300 strong), who work alongside the company providing their time, talent and expertise to various causes that we contribute to. They understand that by actively volunteering and participating in these causes, we are making powerful investments in the wellbeing of our communities and the country. Being IGA means community first and we continue to be in a strong and very powerful way.

Martin Dorville

Editor's Note: The Independent View will not be published Monday, Feb. 15. Our regular publication schedule will resume Tuesday, Feb. 16.

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The Kroger Co. is reportedly interested in buying The Fresh Market, according to people familiar with the matter. Kroger is in the second round of an auction process for The Fresh Market that also attracted other companies and private equity firms, reported Triad Business Journal. Full Story

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Shipt is expanding its grocery delivery service to areas outside of Nashville, TN. The company will now serve customers in Gallatin, Hendersonville, La Vergne, Mt. Juliet, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Spring Hill and Thompson's Station, reported The Tennessean. Full Story

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TreeHouse Foods expects to spend the next two years integrating ConAgra's business with its own operations and building up sales at the combined firm. The company expects sales to double in 2016 because of the acquisition, but also expects weakness and flat growth in the overall packaged food industry, reported Omaha World-Herald. Full Story

The Kellogg Co. will continue to revamp Special K with a line that focuses on better ingredients called Nourish. The company also plans to offer Pop-Tarts in root beer and Orange Crush soda flavors, as college students and younger adults are responding well to such offerings. Kellogg's cereal business showed improvement in the fourth quarter, including sales of Special K rising 7%, reported The State. Full Story

Food data company Label Insight raised $10 million in a deal led by KPMG Capital. It will use the new money to continue improving its technology, primarily hiring data scientists. KPMG will partner with Label Insight to offer clients in the food and beverage industry access to the company's data and technology on ingredient sourcing, reported Crain's Chicago Business. Full Story

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GrubHub expanded its delivery service to southeast Florida. It currently provides delivery services for more than 55 restaurants in the region, a number that it plans to increase over time. Full Story

Foursquare will partner with Delivery.com to allow food ordering through its mobile app. Customers using Foursquare's app to search for restaurants or grocery stores can be redirected to Delivery.com to order items from the location, reported TechCrunch. Full Story

Long John Silver's purchased 10 of its franchises in Ohio. The company plans to use the newly acquired locations to introduce new products and train prospective franchise owners, reported Columbus Business First. Full Story

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Walnut consumption can aid weight loss despite the nut's high fat content, according to a study in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Researchers found a diet high in walnuts and fat led to more weight loss than a diet low in fat but high in carbohydrates, which was attributed to the high level of polyunsaturated fats in walnuts, reported EurekAlert. Full Story

FDA could require mandatory labeling for GMO salmon as soon as March. In return for Sen. Lisa Murkowski lifting a nomination hold on Dr. Richard Califf to head FDA, the Obama administration will not oppose legislation that guarantees mandatory labeling requirements for GMO salmon, reported Alaska Journal. Full Story

A bill banning U.S. imports of fish caught by forced labor in Southeast Asia is expected to be signed by President Obama. The bill closes a loophole in a tariff law that said goods made by forced labor can be allowed in the U.S. if consumer demand cannot be met without them, reported Seattle Times. Full Story

The Department of Commerce's application of antidumping duties on Indian shrimp imports was upheld by the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT). Apex Frozen Foods Private challenged the department's findings that the company sold shrimp in the U.S. at less than fair value, but the CIT confirmed that the department was empowered by Congress to apply an alternative price comparison analysis in administrative reviews, provided that it made certain findings required by the statute. Full Report

A proposed class action lawsuit against a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary will not be put on hold while a federal appeals court weighs three related appeals, a federal judge ruled. The suit in question regards McNeil Nutritional allegedly misleading consumers about trans fat in its Benecol spread. McNeil argued that the outcome of the three appeals could affect the fate of the lawsuit, reported Reuters. Full Story

The Office of the Chief Financial Officer finalized uniform administrative requirements, cost principles and audit requirements for federal awards that were first published in the Dec. 19, 2015 Federal Register. The changes will affect federal awards from the Farm Service Agency, Commodity Credit Corporation and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, among other agencies. The changes will be enacted Feb. 16. Full Notice

USDA allocated about $58.3 million from the 2014 Farm Bill to support 434 projects that prevent the introduction or spread of plant pests and diseases that threaten U.S. agriculture. Funding will be provided to projects created by universities, states, federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, non-profits and tribal organizations in all 50 states, Guam and Puerto Rico. Full Story

ChemChina's purchase of Syngenta could remove some of the suspicion around GMO crops in China, potentially leading to more rapid user acceptance of biotechnology in food production, according to Syngenta's chief operating officer Davor Pisk. If GMO technology is owned by a Chinese entity, consumers will have more confidence in its safety, reported St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Full Story

Smashburger will expand to Dubai and Qatar under a new partnership. The agreement with Pearll Investments LLC will open 26 restaurants over the next several years. Twenty-two of those units will open in United Arab Emirates and the remaining four will open in Qatar. New restaurants are also planned for the UK and Egypt. Full Story

U.S. sweet potatoes are making strong gains in Europe following increased promotional efforts spearheaded by the American Sweet Potato Marketing Institute. Exports to Europe jumped 35% in 2015 to reach a record $92 million, while global exports reached a record $138 million during the year, reported The Produce News. Full Story

Chile's crop of Asian pears features a smaller size profile but excellent quality, according to growers in the region. Due to a late start to the season, shippers are also sourcing the product from California and Asian countries, reported The Packer. Full Story

Farm income continued to decline, resulting in farmers borrowing more during the fourth quarter in Midwestern and Western states, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. Farm income is down because prices declined for cattle, soybeans, wheat and corn, while the value of non-irrigated land declined 4% in the fourth quarter and irrigated land values slipped 2% from the previous year, reported Wichita Eagle. Full Story