IGA Assessment Program

The 2024 Assessment Program

The Assessment Program is underway with updated measurement goals and a more modern and advanced process for providing you with the purposeful feedback you need to continually improve your shopping experience.

Program Overview

IGA's partner: IGA has enlisted the help of Trax, one of the nation’s top data collection companies focused on the shopper experience.

Criteria for measurement: Working with Trax, the National Retailer Advisory Board (NRAB), and a special Assessment committee made up of IGA retailers, we have landed on series of criteria that will help guide continual improvement of your IGA shopping experience — and help us create a more accurate gauge for Five Star recognition. 

The Assessment process: A trained local shopper will take an assessment of your store. "Local" is the keyword. Because the assessor is a shopper of the area, the feedback you get is more targeted to your shoppers — and ultimately more useful in gauging how well you are meeting your shoppers’ needs. The assessor will take the time to walk the store to fully document — in pictures — both what you’re doing right, and what looks like it could use improvement. Those photos are then analyzed by Trax to ensure the data is both objective and accurate.

Transparent reporting: Trax will share the photos taken in your store and all other data and information collected during your assessment on a simple, but robust dashboard. The dashboard allows you to sort your results by criteria or departments.

How the New Assessment Works

• Store owners and directors will have access to the data at least 14 days following each evaluation.
• The assessor will walk into the store and present management/service desk a letter informing management that they will complete the assessment with photos.
• Results will be available 14 days after each evaluation to those owners/managers who have access to the dashboard. If you need to access your store’s dashboard, contact Jason King.

FAQs

How is the assessor chosen?
Trax will be using locally trained assessors who are familiar with your community and may have even shopped in your store in the past.

How is the assessment criteria determined?
Working with Trax, the NRAB, and a special Assessment committee made up of IGA retailers, we have landed on series of criteria that focus less on IGA branding and more on operations that will help guide continual improvement of your IGA shopping experience — and help us create a more accurate gauge for Five Star recognition.

Will I know in advance when my store is going to be assessed?
The next assessment will start on April 1, 2024 and will occur only on weekdays before between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. local time.

Can I get additional assessments throughout the year?
IGA retailers can hire Trax to schedule additional assessments of your store.

Will I see the assessment survey beforehand?
Click here to see the questionnaire that each assessor will use upon their visit.

How will I get my results?
All data and information recorded during your assessment — including photos to support findings — will be shared with you in a simple but robust dashboard. The dashboard allows you to sort your results by criteria or departments.

What if my assessment happens on an unusual day that is not a representative of my store’s normal performance?
Our goal is to get an accurate benchmark of your overall store performance. If your score is impacted because of an out-of-the-ordinary occurrence, you may contact IGA directly to discuss reassessment.

What happens if my score isn’t what I expected?
Your assessment will be totally transparent. You will see all documentation from the assessment, including the assessor’s notes, and photos in support of the assessor’s rating. Should you have questions after fully reviewing your results, you may contact Jason King to discuss.