IGA (Australian supermarket group)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| IGA (Independent Grocers of Australia) | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Type | Supermarket chain |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Headquarters | |
| Key people | Davids Holdings |
| Industry | Retail |
| Products | Groceries & General Products. |
| Parent | Metcash Trading Limited |
| Subsidiaries | Friendly IGA Supa IGA IGA Stores IGA X-press Friendly Grocer Festival Value Plus |
| Website | http://www.iga.net.au |
Independent Grocers of Australia, or IGA, is a chain of independent supermarkets in Australia. It is the local variant of the international Independent Grocers Association. Its main competitors are Woolworths, Coles, Aldi, Foodworks, SPAR, 5 Star and, in NSW, Franklins.
In Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and ACT, IGA has three retail formats:
- Supa IGA, which stocks a full range of products
- IGA, medium sized supermarkets (currently 150 IGA or Supa IGA stores in NSW/ACT)
- A smaller convenience store format, which trades as Friendly Grocer IGA, IGA X-press or IGA Everyday
In 2005 around 13 ACT IGA stores left the IGA group and were re-branded as "Shop-Rite" a former ACT independent brand that was re-branded IGA during the 1990's. Deliveries were sourced from Queensland, rather than Metcash in Blacktown. In 2006, these stores returned to IGA's and Metcash. One Shop-Rite remains in Belconnen.
IGA launched in Queensland and northern New South Wales in 1998. There are now over 200 stores operating from Port Macquarie to Cooktown and west to Mt Isa.
In South Australia, the Foodland group consisting of over 95 privately owned and operated supermarkets, has joined forces with IGA.
There are currently two IGA business channels in Western Australia. In 2005 Woolworths Ltd purchased FAL Ltd as part of this purchase Woolworths was required by the ACCC to divest some FAL owned Action Supermarkets in Western Australia. These Action stores became Supa IGA stores and the remaining 12 stores still not purchased are called Progressive Supa IGA, on 1st May 2006. At the same time the independent network of Dewsons, Dewsons Express stores along with most Supa Valu stores, both previously supplied by FAL Foodland Associated Limited changed their names to IGA while retaining the same ownership. The last remaining Action store in Australia was Action Whitfords (Hillarys) At Westfield Whitfords City; .
In Tasmania, IGA operates differently. There are four different types of stores:
- Friendly Grocer, a small, corner store like shop which can be found in suburban areas.
- Value Plus, a larger store which exist mostly in regional areas, often as local general stores.
- Festival, which are usually full-size supermarkets. There are not many left in Tasmania and are being replaced by Supa IGA.
- Supa IGA is the only one which also operates on the mainland. It has not been operating in Tasmania as long as the other formats.
[edit] Previous IGA Store Trading Names
- Festival (Large stores) (except in Tasmania)
- Welcome Mart (Medium Stores)
- Bi-Lo (WA Only)
- Foodtown
- Farmer Jacks
- Action Supermarkets
- Shop-Rite - Trading name of IGA stores prior to 2000 and again in 2005 in the ACT
- Rainbow Supermarkets
- Tuckerbag
- Foodland
- Supa Valu - first independent supermarket brand in Australia, franchise later sold to Foodland Associated Limited and scaled back to Western Australia becoming independent full service convenience stores.
- Dewsons - Full service high quality independent supermarkets in Western Australia
- Dewsons Express (2005-2006) - Independent convenience stores in Western Australia with fresh categories and convenience lines focus. It never opened beyond a few stores, due to the Metcash/IGA takeover of FAL
- Jewel Food Stores - food barn discount supermarket
- Clancys - independent convenience supermarkets in New South Wales
