Salem IGA is a part of IGA, which is also known as Independent Grocers Alliance and is one of the world s largest voluntary global supermarket networks with worldwide retail sales of more than $20 billion per year. The alliance includes over 4,000 supermarkets worldwide, supported by approximately 35 distribution companies and nearly 55 major manufacturers, vendors and suppliers. The first IGA store was opened as an alliance of around 100 independent grocers in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and Sharon, Conn. It offers more than 2,000 quality-assured IGA private-label products that are proprietary to IGA retailers. It has operations throughout the United States and more than 40 countries, commonwealths and territories on all six continents. The alliance operates the IGA Coca-Cola Institute, a center for learning and research. It organizes a number of promotional and marketing events, such as Hometown Family Meals, KidsFest and Shopping Spree Sweepstakes. Established in 1926, IGA is headquartered in Chicago and maintains a store location in Salem, Ill.