The Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) has announced their IGA USA Retailers of the Year, their list of honorees includes Philadelphia local John Hallinan, owner of The Richmond Shops IGA.

“Retailer of the Year” is the highest award the IGA can bestow upon its members, recognizing their leadership and excellence in their communities, having been nominated by their wholesalers as top retailers among the best 30,000 operating across 46 states.

As a founding member of The Retail Marketing Group (RMG), The Richmond Shops supports independent retailers to stay competitive with advertising, promotion, and merchandising guidance.

Additionally, The Richmond Shops are committed to their local vendors, offering goods including Lancaster Fresh milk and eggs, a neighborhood Urban Winery, and handmade pierogies, among other locally produced products.

“Getting the word out on all of these unique offerings can be a challenge for the independent,” Hallinan said in a press release. 

“The conventional circular has taken a back seat to a new digital world, and we have worked hard to embrace this. We run our own robust marketing program that includes a loyalty rewards program, digital coupons, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, a weekly email campaign with 10,000 recipients and a weekly commercial that reaches the entire City of Philadelphia through TV and their digital devices,” he continued.

Several members of the IGA — including IGA CEO John Ross — will visit The Richmond Shops on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. There, they will examine the retailer’s interactions with employees, customers, and the community.

This information will play a role in deciding the IGA USA International Retailer, announced at the IGA Awards of Excellence Ceremony taking place next month, where all Retailer of the Year honorees will be recognized, and one will be chosen for the international award.

“The IGA name carries significant weight in certain parts of the country, and these nine Retailers of the Year have proven that without question. The relationships they have built within their stores and throughout their communities run deep with friendships and some with family legacies,” said IGA CEO John Ross in a press release.

“John Hallinan and his team have established a reputation of local ownership and commitment to not only shoppers but their respective neighborhoods,” he continued.

As the community supports Richmond Shops IGA, Hallihan also enjoys giving back. One way is through its BLOCS program, which supports four local schools in the community.

“We invest in multiple neighborhood associations for spring cleanups and green space revitalization. And as an independent we take special care to look after the struggling sports clubs, veteran groups, and those that have been impacted the most in these difficult times,” Hallihan said. 

Hallinan will be recognized for his and the grocer's achievements at the IGA Awards of Excellence Ceremony on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.