IGA SPREADS INTO CHINA, SINGAPORE

CHICAGO -- A group of seven stores in China has converted to the IGA banner and a new IGA partnership has been established with a store group in Singapore.

IGA.

Effective last month, all stores started using the IGA banner in combination with the previous name, yielding the Your Ground IGA Stores. The name translates roughly to "IGA Hometown Proud." Thomas S. Haggai, IGA chairman and chief executive officer, said it's hoped that 11 more stores will be converted in the Guangzhou area before year's end. The region's population is more than 7 million. Unlike most other Chinese stores, Your Ground IGA stores use modern technology, including handheld electronic scanners, at a time many other stores use abacuses to calculate customer purchases. In another development, Haggai said IGA has become partners with National Trade Union Congress Fairprice Co-operative Ltd., a 47-store chain in Singapore. Fairprice is to retain its current name, but will add IGA signs for in-store promotions. Fairprice is to be supplied by a distribution network being developed jointly by Davids Group, Sydney, Australia, and Fleming Cos., Oklahoma City.