IGA Honors W. Lee Flowers & Co. Former President Henry Johnson, Jr. with J. Frank Grimes Award 

JANUARY 2024—In a momentous event at the recent FMI Mid-winter Conference in Marco Island, Florida, the Independent Grocers Alliance bestowed the prestigious J. Frank Grimes Award upon Henry Johnson, Jr., the former president of W. Lee Flowers & Co. 

IGA Chairman Mark Batenic and IGA CEO John Ross presented the accolade, which is considered the highest honor granted by IGA and is often referred to as the Chairman's Award. Intended to be presented in 2020, the recognition was postponed due to the pandemic. Johnson, Jr. retired in 2019.  

In business since 1922, W. Lee Flowers & Co. serves the Carolinas and Georgia as a wholesale and retail grocery company. Henry Johnson, Jr. and Heyward King, Jr. took over company leadership from their fathers in the 1980s, growing the company into the business we know today, by increasing the warehouse size by five-fold, the owned store count from a handful to over 60, and their offerings from dry goods to meat, produce, dairy, frozen, and even health and beauty products. By the 2000s, W. Lee Flowers was the only South Carolina-owned grocery wholesaler in the state, down from a peak of over 100. 

Seeing new opportunities, Johnson, Jr. created a new brand, KJ's Market IGA, which served as their introduction into larger cities and now has become the new foundation of the retail business. 

In 2019, President Henry Johnson, Jr. and Chairman and CEO Heyward L. King, Jr. had led W. Lee Flowers for over 80 years combined. It was time to retire, and they decided that Alex Lee, Inc. would acquire the business.  

“When Henry and his partner Heyward King, Jr. decided to sell, they only talked to one company: Alex Lee,” Batenic said. “They wanted the business they built up to stay within the IGA family and with a family-owned business. At the time of the sale, Henry and Heyward owned 50 of the 120 IGA stores they served.” 

This strategic move not only showcased their dedication to the IGA community but also solidified the continuity of their legacy within the familial IGA network. 

At the Friends Dinner of the FMI's Mid-winter Conference, Johnson, Jr.’s impactful remarks resonated with over 350 attendees. The room erupted into applause, punctuated by not one but two standing ovations. The first, a gesture of appreciation when the award was presented, and the second, a heartfelt acknowledgment after Johnson shared his reflections, speaking passionately from the heart. 

"Henry Johnson is the ultimate gentleman. He has positively impacted the industry with his leadership for many years, and I have been fortunate to learn from him," said Alex Lee, Inc. President, Chairman, and CEO Brian George. "He welcomed me into the industry and willingly shared his knowledge. I am honored to be able to continue to grow the business he devoted his career to with W. Lee Flowers and the retail stores." 

Earning the J. Frank Grimes Award is a testament to Johnson, Jr.'s dedication, legacy, and commitment to fostering a sense of community amongst independent retailers. 

For more information on Johnson, Jr.’s legacy, click here. 

About the Independent Grocers Alliance 

The Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) was founded in 1926, bringing together independent grocers across the United States to ensure that the trusted, family-owned local grocery store remained strong in the face of growing chain competition. IGA is the world’s largest voluntary supermarket network with aggregate worldwide retail sales of over $43 billion per year. The Alliance includes more than 6,200 stores globally, with operations in 46 of the United States and over 25 countries, commonwealths, and territories. 

For more information on the Independent Grocers Alliance, visit corporate.iga.com.