In The Know
IGA Caribbean Retailer of the Year
T
he Independent Grocer’s Alliance (IGA) based in the USA announced in March that Andre Chastanet, Managing Director of Consolidated Foods Ltd., has been named IGA’s 2010 IGA Caribbean Retailer of the Year. Andre was chosen for having achieved exemplary excellence in retailing at Super J Rodney Bay and for advancement of the IGA Brand in the grocery industry, the IGA Alliance and the Caribbean. Andre will be honored along with fellow IGA Retailers of the Year from other countries at the 2010 IGA Global Rally Awards Banquet on April 19 at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennesse. Andre has played an important role in the development of IGA in the Caribbean, serving since January of 2009 as the chairman of the newly formed IGA Caribbean Board. In that capacity he has worked with his fellow IGA Caribbean retailers and partners to grow their overall businesses and bring a more satisfying shopping experience to IGA customers in the Caribbean. Over the last year, emphasis has been placed on taking full advantage of the expertise, support and brand-building programmes of IGA to expand the scope, quality and delivery of the food industry in the Caribbean region. Chastanet also places a premium on employee development, and for the third year in a row, Super J stores held the enviable position of being among the top users of IGA’s online training programme. BUSINESSFOCUS April / May 2010
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“We commend Andre Chastanet for using the power of the IGA brand to contribute to the economic development of St. Lucia, and for working to bring the people of the Caribbean the personalized and community-focused shopping experience that can only be found at IGA” said IGA CEO Mark Batenic. Super J Rodney Bay is the flagship IGA store in St. Lucia and one of eight IGA stores operated by Consolidated Foods Ltd. Like all the Super J IGA stores, Rodney Bay prides itself on supplying St. Lucia with high quality local produce and products, while supporting the local agricultural and manufacturing industries. Corporate social responsibility is high on Super J IGA’s agenda. As such the supermarket chain has developed strong linkages with some key sectors including the agriculture farming community, tourism and commerce. The commitment is manifested in Super J’s commitment to youth and sports organizations and programmes. More recently Super J stores have become associated with the island’s health and wellness programmes, given its active involvement with the Diabetes, Cancer and other health associations in Saint Lucia. “I accept this award on behalf of all of our team members at Super J IGA in St. Lucia,” Andre Chastanet said. “I believe that their commitment and dedication to the company throughout the years have contributed immensely to our success. We
Andre Chastanet
always put St. Lucia and our community first, and our business develops as a result.” He also views the award as another opportunity for St. Lucia as a tourist destination to get marketing exposure given the internationalization of IGA. “I am elated that through this award we are also lending support to Saint Lucia’s very important tourism industry by making the island known to the world of retailers that is IGA ” noted Chastanet. 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. BF For further info: www.superjsupermarkets.com