Nash Finch Boosts IGA Involvement, Converts Cincinnati Division to Dedicated IGA DC
KINGS ISLAND, Ohio -- Nash Finch Company unveiled an extensive IGA retailer market development program at a meeting of more than 120 IGA member retailers held here yesterday.
The meeting was hosted jointly by Ron Marshall, c.e.o. of Minneapolis-based Nash Finch, and Dr. Thomas Haggai, chairman, president and c.e.o. of IGA, based in Chicago. At the meeting, Nash Finch also said it is converting its Cincinnati distribution center to a dedicated IGA Center of Excellence that will consolidate service to its member retailers. The facility will not only carry a much broader assortment of products, but will also centralize buying power significantly reducing costs for IGA members.
"We believe that strong, service-oriented and efficient independent retailers will continue to prosper in today's market," Marshall said. "Our new dedicated IGA Center of Excellence, along with our creative marketing and merchandising programs, will provide IGA retailers new ways to appeal to local shoppers, 'market' their stores to their communities, and, most importantly, build profitable sales...all while enhancing the local identity of each individual Hometown Proud IGA store."
The program, being called It's a New Day with IGA, highlighted eight key benefits initiated by Nash Finch, including:
-- An increase in IGA label item count to 900 items compared to the industry norm of 600, creating the largest IGA label selection in the Midwest.
-- Reduction of the IGA label cost of goods, to be realized through the efficiency and buying power of the Cincinnati IGA facility, combined with increased sales and marketing events.
-- Upgrading of IGA sales and merchandising tools, including a new dedicated IGA sales team, enhanced signage materials, Quality Assurance support, and the IGA Compare and Save shelf tag program.
-- Expansion of IGA/Nash Finch sales events, including truckload sales, five IGA label events, an annual IGA anniversary celebration, and Nash Finch branded, traffic building 'power events' such as Summer Circus Sale and Race Days.
-- Development of an improved IGA circular.
-- Creation of Free IGA ad wraps, four new advertising opportunities to introduce and promote seasonal IGA events at no cost.
-- A new IGA holiday food report, an exclusive IGA member merchandising and promotional tool for solution-focused holiday entertaining with recipes and coupons.
Creation of a "Rediscover IGA" targeted mailer--Customized local advertising aimed at promoting traditional IGA Hometown Proud strengths in the community.
Nash Finch also revealed the details of additional sales building programs offered exclusively for IGA retailers.
"Nash Finch is committed to helping IGA retailers leverage the power of their sales and the strength of their traditional support for their communities," Marshall said. "Our objective is to become the supplier of choice as the premier IGA food distributor in the country."
Nash Finch Company is one of the leading food distribution companies in the United States, with nearly $4 billion in fiscal 2004 sales. In March 2005, the company acquired two distribution centers representing an additional nearly $1 billion in annual food distribution sales. Nash Finch's core business, food distribution, serves independent retailers and military commissaries in 28 states, the District of Columbia, Europe, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Iceland, the Azores and Honduras. The company also owns and operates a base of over 80 retail stores, principally supermarkets under the Econofoods, Family Thrift Center and Sun Mart trade names.
The meeting was hosted jointly by Ron Marshall, c.e.o. of Minneapolis-based Nash Finch, and Dr. Thomas Haggai, chairman, president and c.e.o. of IGA, based in Chicago. At the meeting, Nash Finch also said it is converting its Cincinnati distribution center to a dedicated IGA Center of Excellence that will consolidate service to its member retailers. The facility will not only carry a much broader assortment of products, but will also centralize buying power significantly reducing costs for IGA members.
"We believe that strong, service-oriented and efficient independent retailers will continue to prosper in today's market," Marshall said. "Our new dedicated IGA Center of Excellence, along with our creative marketing and merchandising programs, will provide IGA retailers new ways to appeal to local shoppers, 'market' their stores to their communities, and, most importantly, build profitable sales...all while enhancing the local identity of each individual Hometown Proud IGA store."
The program, being called It's a New Day with IGA, highlighted eight key benefits initiated by Nash Finch, including:
-- An increase in IGA label item count to 900 items compared to the industry norm of 600, creating the largest IGA label selection in the Midwest.
-- Reduction of the IGA label cost of goods, to be realized through the efficiency and buying power of the Cincinnati IGA facility, combined with increased sales and marketing events.
-- Upgrading of IGA sales and merchandising tools, including a new dedicated IGA sales team, enhanced signage materials, Quality Assurance support, and the IGA Compare and Save shelf tag program.
-- Expansion of IGA/Nash Finch sales events, including truckload sales, five IGA label events, an annual IGA anniversary celebration, and Nash Finch branded, traffic building 'power events' such as Summer Circus Sale and Race Days.
-- Development of an improved IGA circular.
-- Creation of Free IGA ad wraps, four new advertising opportunities to introduce and promote seasonal IGA events at no cost.
-- A new IGA holiday food report, an exclusive IGA member merchandising and promotional tool for solution-focused holiday entertaining with recipes and coupons.
Creation of a "Rediscover IGA" targeted mailer--Customized local advertising aimed at promoting traditional IGA Hometown Proud strengths in the community.
Nash Finch also revealed the details of additional sales building programs offered exclusively for IGA retailers.
"Nash Finch is committed to helping IGA retailers leverage the power of their sales and the strength of their traditional support for their communities," Marshall said. "Our objective is to become the supplier of choice as the premier IGA food distributor in the country."
Nash Finch Company is one of the leading food distribution companies in the United States, with nearly $4 billion in fiscal 2004 sales. In March 2005, the company acquired two distribution centers representing an additional nearly $1 billion in annual food distribution sales. Nash Finch's core business, food distribution, serves independent retailers and military commissaries in 28 states, the District of Columbia, Europe, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Iceland, the Azores and Honduras. The company also owns and operates a base of over 80 retail stores, principally supermarkets under the Econofoods, Family Thrift Center and Sun Mart trade names.