URBANDALE, Iowa — The Iowa Grocery Industry Association (IGIA) will commemorate its 120th anniversary with a special anniversary logo and by returning to Cedar Rapids, where it opened its doors in 1899, for its Get Connected Convention, to be held July 9-11 at the DoubleTree by Hilton.
The organization represents the Iowa food industry, including supermarkets, convenience stores, suppliers, wholesalers, brokers, manufacturers and distributors.
At the convention this year, attendees will gather on opening night, July 9, for a trivia night "funraiser" featuring live music by Jason Walsmith of the Nadas and a round of IGIA history-based trivia questions. Proceeds will be used to fund scholarships for youth with ties to the grocery industry.
Then July 10, immediately following the annual Iowa Grocers Education Foundation Scholarship Auction, IGIA members will gather for a 120th birthday celebration, to be held at 9 p.m. in the Parlor Ballroom at the hotel. Participants will have a chance to toast the association while networking with industry peers and taking in a professional fireworks display sponsored by E. & J. Gallo Winery.
The event will celebrate IGIA’s mission to proactively promote and strengthen Iowa’s grocery industry.
“All of us working in the food industry can be proud of the vital role we play in supplying safe, wholesome food to Iowans as well as having a positive impact in the community,” said IGIA President Michelle Hurd. “We provide the fuel that moves our state forward as we work to improve the health of Iowans. Retailers today focus on providing wholesome selections, convenient prepared food options, healthful recipes, cooking advice, knowledgeable dietitians, helpful apps and services that make getting a meal on the table a little easier for busy families.”
IGIA retail members employ close to 100,000 individuals at 1,400 locations throughout the state, providing an estimated $1.5 billion in wages annually, and contributing millions of dollars annually in taxes and more than $12.5 million to local charitable endeavors each year.
Other ways the IGIA will celebrate its 120th anniversary at the convention include a gallery of historical photos and an anniversary tribute video.
The Iowa Grocery Industry Association, with headquarters in Urbandale, is a state trade association that represents the food industry, including chain and independent supermarkets, convenience stores, mass merchandisers, wholesalers, brokers, manufacturers and distributors. Founded in 1899, the IGIA has long served as a resource to its members, the food industry and the public through education, legislative, partnership and philanthropic programs.
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