The Independent Grocers Alliance has announced Rob Hille- ary, owner of Pocahontas IGA in Marlinton, as an IGA USA Retailer of the Year.
The Retailer of the Year awards are the highest honors IGA bestows upon its retailer members. They are presented annually to grocers who have best provided leadership and excellence in their communities.
Hilleary will be recognized at the IGA Awards of Excellence Ceremony Monday, March 11, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The store was nominated by their Licensed Distribution Center Merchants Distributors, Inc.
IGA CEO John Ross and Senior Vice President Retail and Business Development Doug Fritsch visited Pocahontas IGA February 14 to get a firsthand feel for how the retailer interacts with employees, customers and the community.
Based on information gathered during the store visits, the committee will then select one IGA USA Retailer of the Year to receive the IGA International Retailer of the Year award, which will be awarded on stage at the IGA Awards of Excellence Ceremony. Fellow IGA Retailers of the Year from other countries in addition to select Red Oval partners and wholesalers will also be honored at the event.
Hilleary stands out for his remarkable investment in transforming the store since acquiring it January 1, 2021. Previously the store manager, Hilleary’s initiatives have brought a fresh and modern appeal to the establishment.
The revitalization journey began with new vinyl flooring. This aesthetic upgrade set the tone for further improvements, in- cluding a new décor package and restroom renovation to align with contemporary standards.
A new POS system and self-checkout have boosted operational efficiency, and Hilleary plans to upgrade old, refrigerated cases throughout the store to energy efficient models.
Hilleary’s commitment to innovation extends to customer experience. He has a dedicated person managing the loyalty program in collaboration with AppCard. That same staff member oversees the seamless integration of online shopping through FreshOp.
Responding to feedback from field merchandisers and his retail counselor, Hilleary successfully implemented truckload meat sales, spring plant sales, and allocated half of the bread rack to MDI’s fully finished, retail-ready Bread Program, offering a great variety to shoppers. This proactive approach demonstrates his trust in the wholesaler and confidence in initiatives that resonate with and retain customers.
Beyond the business realm, Hilleary’s community involvement is noteworthy. Actively promoting careers in the grocery industry, he participates in High School Career Day. In the spirit of community engagement, Hilleary joins the town’s parade and spreads joy by distributing Christmas presents to children during Santa Claus visits.
Hilleary’s support for local initiatives is both generous and diverse. He sources beef from 4-H, slices hams and bacons for the FFA (Future Farmers of America) sale at no charge, and collaborates with the Woman’s Club, Rotary Club and Lions Club for impactful fundraising events. Notably, the parking lot often transforms into a vibrant hub for fundraising activities before Memorial Day.
Philanthropy remains a key pillar of Hilleary’s ethos, as he consistently donates to the Watoga State Park Foundation and actively supports various fundraisers organized by schools, churches and other community groups. Offering a 10% discount on all church purchases, along with special discounts and donations to the Family Resource Network, Hilleary exemplifies a retailer deeply committed to both business excellence and community welfare.
Congratulations to our home town IGA!
All of this is great. However, I’d like to see a commitment to having enough “Sale Items” to last at least through Friday. Too often vegetable or meat Sales are gone b4 the end of Thursday and we are told more will come in on Monday. Really? I have to wait til Monday to get the item advertised in the Wednesday paper? I’ve just about given up on shopping there. I do like the new vibe-although I personally don’t like self check-out. However, I’d like to be able to purchase “Sale Items” within 3 days of the sale-or maybe during the whole week! I don’t get my paper til Thursday afternoon-so I’d have to be at the store at opening time to be able to take advantage of the sale. I write the food column for the paper and it could be a winner if I wrote a recipe using the sale items for each week.