IGA Promotes Heidi Huff to Red Oval Senior Director

Heidi Huff, director of marketing for IGA USA, has been promoted to senior director of Red Oval Partnerships. In her new role, Huff will report to IGA CEO John Ross and will have primary responsibility for the management and growth of the IGA Red Oval Family, a unique partnership of premier national brand manufacturers and service providers who create collaborative opportunities that are traditionally unavailable to independent grocery retailers.

Huff, who joined IGA in 2008 as marketing manager and who has served in her most recent role since 2012, will work closely with IGA’s 40 existing and prospective Red Oval members to identify and develop strategies for the retailer network’s new marketing, communications and training programs.

“Heidi is a committed brand ambassador who brings a level of enthusiasm to the work we do that is both inspiring and contagious,” Ross said in a statement. “As we move forward with new program initiatives that create more opportunity for our IGA retailers and our brand, that contagious enthusiasm, combined with Heidi’s proven track record working hand-in-hand with both major brands and smaller regional players to create successful sales programs, is exactly what we need to engage our manufacturing and service provider Red Oval partners,” who Ross said “will have a role to play in IGA going forward. 

“From taking center stage with new products and content on our national digital ad, to providing the services that will help our retailers do their jobs faster, easier and better, we need our Red Ovals to understand, embrace and get truly excited about what IGA has to offer, and Heidi’s the perfect person to do just that,” he said.

For her part, Huff said, “There’s no better job than working to help IGA retailers succeed—unless it’s working with the world’s best brands and service providers to make it happen. It’s such an exciting time right now at IGA. Every day brings new opportunities to leverage IGA’s heritage and brand power and expand our innovation.”

Prior to joining IGA, Huff worked for Building Leaders, a Chicago-based sales training company, where she implemented marketing and branding activities, and managed the overall delivery of programs and services, including e-commerce, sales/marketing and event coordination. Earlier in her career, Huff was a business development consultant working with independent businesses to develop marketing and promotional programs, sales training and all related communication tools. She also brings operational and sales development experience from Corner Bakery Cafe.