IGA Restructures U.S. Field Team
CHICAGO -- International voluntary supermarket network IGA said it is restructuring its U.S. field service personnel to prepare for what it predicts will be "a strong growth year."
As part of the restucturing, William Benzing, who has served as IGA's chief growth officer for the past three years, will now give his time primarily to Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc., IGA's newest supplier.
Benzing will assist AWG in recruiting and supplying IGA stores from multiple service areas. He will also assist IGA's Supervalu- supplied stores in Illinois, as well as the IGA stores serviced by Supervalu from Quincy, Fla. and Indianola, Miss. He will round out his responsibility by assisting the IGA stores serviced by Roundy's in Wisconsin.
Ricky St. John will become area director in a shared position, being dually employed by IGA and Affiliated Foods. In this new position, he will work primarily with Nebraska-headquartered Affiliated Foods -- Midwest, which has additional centers in Elwood, Kan.
Bill Overman will continue in his role of serving retailers in Michigan, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. In addition, he will be providing support for stores supplied by Merchants Distributors, Inc. of Hickory, N.C.; W. Lee Flowers of Scranton, S.C.; and the Nash Finch division of Statesboro, Ga.
Shane Maue will continue her role of serving Cheshire, Conn.-based Bozzuto's supplied stores in an area from Maryland to Maine. In addition to serving C&S Wholesale Grocers in the Northeast, she will also pick up C&S Wholesale Grocers of Northern California.
Michael Abney, an employee of Supervalu, will continue as director of marketing to the IGA retailers in the Northwest.
Jim Tooms, president of IGW L.L.C. Independent Grocers West, will continue enlisting and serving retailers in New Mexico, Arizona, and California, along with several other new growth initiatives. Chandler, Ariz.-based regional retailer Bashas' is supplying these stores through its wholesale division, National.
Finally, Long Island IGA retailer Richard Lukeman will lead IGA's initiative in Florida with Associated Grocers of Florida, as well as work with Ira Higdon Grocery Company of Georgia.
As part of the restucturing, William Benzing, who has served as IGA's chief growth officer for the past three years, will now give his time primarily to Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc., IGA's newest supplier.
Benzing will assist AWG in recruiting and supplying IGA stores from multiple service areas. He will also assist IGA's Supervalu- supplied stores in Illinois, as well as the IGA stores serviced by Supervalu from Quincy, Fla. and Indianola, Miss. He will round out his responsibility by assisting the IGA stores serviced by Roundy's in Wisconsin.
Ricky St. John will become area director in a shared position, being dually employed by IGA and Affiliated Foods. In this new position, he will work primarily with Nebraska-headquartered Affiliated Foods -- Midwest, which has additional centers in Elwood, Kan.
Bill Overman will continue in his role of serving retailers in Michigan, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. In addition, he will be providing support for stores supplied by Merchants Distributors, Inc. of Hickory, N.C.; W. Lee Flowers of Scranton, S.C.; and the Nash Finch division of Statesboro, Ga.
Shane Maue will continue her role of serving Cheshire, Conn.-based Bozzuto's supplied stores in an area from Maryland to Maine. In addition to serving C&S Wholesale Grocers in the Northeast, she will also pick up C&S Wholesale Grocers of Northern California.
Michael Abney, an employee of Supervalu, will continue as director of marketing to the IGA retailers in the Northwest.
Jim Tooms, president of IGW L.L.C. Independent Grocers West, will continue enlisting and serving retailers in New Mexico, Arizona, and California, along with several other new growth initiatives. Chandler, Ariz.-based regional retailer Bashas' is supplying these stores through its wholesale division, National.
Finally, Long Island IGA retailer Richard Lukeman will lead IGA's initiative in Florida with Associated Grocers of Florida, as well as work with Ira Higdon Grocery Company of Georgia.