IGA APPOINTS MARKETING COMMITTEE

CHICAGO -- IGA here said last week it has appointed a Strategic Marketing Committee to provide overall direction for its marketing and retail programs.

upport our Red Oval Family partners and expand the quality and value of IGA to our retailers and consumers."

Tom Haggai, IGA chairman, said the committee's purpose is to balance ongoing initiatives on store appearance and customer service with initiatives that tie in with the association's Hometown Proud theme, including IGA-sponsored athletic events, tree-planting, child and pet care at store level and community service awards.

The seven-member committee is comprised of marketing executives from IGA's distribution company.

As its first order of business, the committee elected Jim Dorcy, vice president of advertising and marketing at Bozzuto's, Cheshire, Conn., as chairman. IGA said his responsibilities include oversight of the development and execution of the committee's strategic goals. Other committee members are Lewis Beynon, manager of IGA marketing at the Dayton, Ohio, division of Nash Finch Co., Minneapolis; Mark Harsha, director of IGA retail advertising at Fleming Cos., Oklahoma City; and Jim Mills, group president of IGA at Fleming.

The other committee members are Eddie Minton, director of IGA at Merchants Distributors, Hickory, N.C.; Mike Mulligan, vice president of wholesale sales and marketing at Supervalu, Minneapolis; and Bob Spelts, corporate director of advertising and sales promotion at Supervalu.

Larry Willis, IGA president and chief operating officer, said committee members "will ultimately add more value to IGA for its retailers, partner companies and consumers."