[trishalishous]

The only difference I can see is that the IGA supermarkets are franchises, rather than owned and operated by a parent company (like Woolworths).
They all employ local people, they seem to use similar supply sources, ethically they have negatives and positives.
What am I missing?

[epg]

IGA's seem to source from a wider range of suppliers, and it seems to vary from store to store.
They don't push you to their own store brands quite as much.
They don't have the size to lean quite so heavily on their suppliers.
The quality of food varies hugely from store to store - my local seems to stock great fruit and veg, the one in the next suburb is appalling.
I THINK they're owned by Metway but I'm not sure how much profit stays with franchise owners vs going to shareholders.

I try to avoid Coles and Woolies just because of the market domination thing and also Woolworths involvement in the gambling industry but I don't know if IGA is necessarily any better ethically. It probably matters more WHAT you buy in each product line than where you buy it, but that said my local fruit and veg store is privately (and locally) owned and sources local (WA) produce as much as possible plus stocks a fair amount of organic /ethical products so I prefer to shop there even if it is a bit more expensive.

[lovealpacas]

IGA are owned by Metcash.

[zande]

My local IGA has terrible fruit & veg and their prices are much higher and their range much more limited, so I always shop at Woolies, but will use IGA on weekends if I have run out of something or need something in a hurry (coz it's closer).

[Jembo]

For our local IGA aside from the great customer service (they still have packers who even help you to your car) they stock local products and produce from close by as well.

They are locally owned by the same people. The lady would have to be in her 80's but you always find her at the store, and she always says hi and if you ever look like you cant find something, there is someone to help.

They give back bucket loads to the local community every year with various programs, and if you go in and ask them for a donation towards fundraising they always help out

Mine is less expensive than the big ones and they also aren't forcing me to buy their brand because they stock nothing else.

But for me the old fashioned customer service, packing my bags and helping me to the car when I need it that wins everytime

[soontobegran]

Our 2 local IGA's are over priced and have poor quality fresh food. I only use them in an emergency but could add $50 to a weekly shop if I used them all the time.
Definitely no bag packers/carriers and smiley faces at ours either

[pruehp]

IGA are not owned by Metcash. They are independently owned, but are supplied by Metcash. Metcash bought out Franklins but have sold the stores to individual operators or consortiums, at which time they were rebranded back to IGA.

[Spring Chickadee]

I have 2 stores both 10 minutes away. One is terrible, I've had mouldy or off food to many times to bother going back and the store is dirty.

The other one has loads of locally owned produce and bakes their own bread, the store is clean and the staff are lovely.

So they vary greatly.

[JRA]

IGA's seem to source from a wider range of suppliers, and it seems to vary from store to store.
They don't push you to their own store brands quite as much.
They don't have the size to lean quite so heavily on their suppliers.
The quality of food varies hugely from store to store - my local seems to stock great fruit and veg, the one in the next suburb is appalling.

I agree. Some are crap, some are great. The theory is that they can choose product appropriate for their locals. the one that was near our old house was awesome.

IGA are not owned by Metcash. They are independently owned, but are supplied by Metcash. Metcash bought out Franklins but have sold the stores to individual operators or consortiums, at which time they were rebranded back to IGA.

[MahnaMahna]

Our local IGA has been open for 2 years. It has had 4 owners already. The fresh produce is always crap, they were fined once for re-dating expiration dates on meat that didn't sell and they are always over priced.

The current owners seem to be doing a little better with the fresh produce but prices are still much higher than the local coles.