By DONNA ALLEN
LONDONDERRY – Marshall, Miner, and Brenda Clark, owners of Clark’s IGA in Londonderry and their Londonderry, VT-based Clark’s Quality Foods have been awarded the IGA Five Star honor for achievement in IGA’s Assessment Program, which is the highest level of recognition possible under the Assessment Program’s rigorous standards.
“We at Clarks are so proud to be The Mountain Community’s Five Star IGA,” Marshall Clark said. “Our TEAM achieved this honor by working as together to continuously and consistently meet the needs of our customers. I’d like to thank my dedicated associates for their hard work and diligence day in and day out. I wish to also thank our loyal and supportive customers, who whose honest input and patronage make our business grow and this recognition possible.”
Jeff Call, co-store manager, has been with Clark’s for 27 years. “I’m still here because I enjoy being here. I like the small town where you get to know everybody on a first name basis. We are always learning and it is challenging.” Said Call, “My sister is married to Miner so I guess that means I’m family.”
Greg Wyman, manager, was here for five years, left and came back five years ago. “There are opportunities and growth with Clark’s. People get along with each other. We are the largest employer in Londonderry, but we still are small enough to know everyone.”
Performance was measured for the IGA Assessment Program by a combination of unrevealed and revealed assessments, focusing on store appearance and product quality, employee training, customer service, participation in IGA-only shopper-focused offers from national brand partners, and support and involvement in the local community.
The Independent Grocers Alliance, or 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. The Clark family has been involved in IGA since 1931 when Miner C. Clark joined the network with his Arlington, VT store. The Londonderry store became Clark’s IGA in 1974 when founders Ray and Ardis Clark bought the former Adam’s Supermarket. The three Clark offspring have been involved in the operation of the supermarket throughout several evolutions, expansions, and remodels in the 44 years since. The store’s primary supplier and IGA partner is C&S Wholesale, which is the largest grocery wholesale company in the US, which supplies over 14,000 stores across the US. It is the tenth largest privately held company in the country, supplying IGA stores, Foodland, Winn Dixie,
Piggly Wiggly and numerous other regional and national chains.
“Clarks is a great example of local owners using their entrepreneurial creativity to deliver the high-touch, personalized, and innovative experiences our shoppers want,” IGA CEO John Ross said. “We’re proud of Clark’s Quality Foods IGA and its lasting legacy of local ownership and community commitment and thank all the shoppers who inspired this IGA team to be among the best.”
In the USA, only 333 stores were given their highest rating
of five stars. Congratulations to Clark’s IGA. Your hometown is mighty proud of their hometown grocery.
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