Over 5,000 IGA stores are evaluated each year through IGA’s rigorous internal Assessment Program. In 2011, less than 300 earned the highest level of recognition possible, but among them were all five local Quality Foods IGA stores.
The Quality Foods IGA stores in Wausau, Schofield, Rib Mountain and two in Wisconsin Rapids will soon proudly display their 2012 Five Star Awards. Their coveted Five Star rating was earned through achievements in store appearance and product quality, employee training, customer service, and support and involvement in the local community. “The IGA Assessment Program involves three unrevealed and one revealed assessment within the course of a year,” explains Andy Lamb, manager of the Wausau store.
“Another component is customer feedback,” adds Jeff Zollpriester, COO of the Schofield Quality Foods IGA. “We thank all our customers because they inspire us to be our best. We also have our dedicated Associates to thank for their hard work day in and day out.”
Jim Hintz and Merlin Jeffery manage the stores in Wisconsin Rapids, on Baker Drive and Grand Avenue, respectively. “Quality Foods customers know that when they shop at any of our stores, they’re supporting not only a local independent retailer, but their community as a whole,” says Jeffery.
Hintz agrees. “We mean it when we say ‘We’re glad you’re here.’ Each of our stores is community-focused.”
“My entire staff is proud to be Rib Mountain’s Five Star IGA,” says Jason Fritsche, owner of the store. “We achieved this honor by working as a team to meet the needs of customers who are our friends and neighbors.”
IGA is the world’s largest voluntary supermarket network with aggregate worldwide retail sales of over $31 billion per year. The Alliance includes more than 5,000 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 38 countries, commonwealths and territories.
