IGA Names IGA 2018 Global Red Oval Partner of the Year

LAS VEGAS (Feb. 15, 2018) IGA today announced The Coca-Cola Company was named IGA 2018 Global Red Oval Partner of the Year at the IGA Awards of Excellence Brunch on Sunday, Feb. 11 at the IGA Global Rally, held at the Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas Feb. 9 through 11. Red Oval Partner The Coca-Cola Company received the award for their outstanding commitment in 2017 to the advancement of the IGA Brand and the independent retailers IGA serves.

The Red Oval Family—an alliance of the industry’s premier food manufacturers, service providers and associations—partner with IGA to provide extensive resources that are unavailable to other independents. Throughout the year, Red Oval Partners support IGA retailers and Licensed Distribution Centers in a number of ways, from helping to develop, fund and execute in-store and industry events, to providing insights and services that enable IGA retailers to compete more effectively.

Throughout 2017, The Coca-Cola Company demonstrated its support of IGA and its independent retailers by spearheading IGA-specific shopper research to better understand IGA shoppers; provided content and sponsorship for the IGA Coca-Cola Institute training; participated in IGA marketing programs and created additional programming to inspire innovative marketing and merchandising among IGA retailers around the globe; and hosted a Brand Vision Workshop where members from the IGA Chicago team and some key retailers and wholesalers first joined together to explore the process for defining an up-branded IGA identity.

"We have great brands that support IGA, and Coca-Cola hits all the marks as a best-in-class partner," IGA CEO John Ross says. "They are engaged with everything IGA does domestically and globally, and support us with all their knowledge and insights not just about their category but the industry as a whole. That knowledge is crucial as we work to unlock opportunities and plot our course for the future."

“On behalf of myself and all the teams around the world, we are humbled and honored to receive this award,” says Patrick Hollanders, Global Account Director at The Coca-Cola Company. “We consider it a great privilege to partner with IGA, and it is our honor to support IGA retailers in 30 countries around the globe.”  

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands and nearly 3,900 beverage choices. Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world's most valuable and recognizable brands, our company's portfolio features 21 billion-dollar brands, 19 of which are available in reduced-, low- or no-calorie options. These brands include Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero, Fanta, Sprite, Dasani, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Del Valle, Georgia and Gold Peak. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, we are the No. 1 provider of both sparkling and still beverages. More than 1.9 billion servings of our beverages are enjoyed by consumers in more than 200 countries each day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo, visit our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com or find us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-cola-company.