Garrettsville – Last week, Rich and Darlene Hoffman and their team at Sky Plaza IGA were presented with and Award of Excellence from IGA’s corporate team from Chicago. The hometown grocery store was nominated for this honor by the store’s Licensed Distribution Center, SpartanNash, and their colleague Dick White.
IGA CEO John Ross, Senior Vice President Retail and Business Development, Doug Fritsch, together with 2020 International Retailer of the Year, Bob Rybick, visit Garrettsville to see firsthand how the retailer interacts with employees, customers, and the community.
“We’re proud that our small store has received this recognition,” Rich noted. “We wouldn’t be here without the hard work of our employees and our friends in the community,” he noted. “It means a lot, coming from our peers,” Darlene shared.
The Hoffmans have been in the grocery business in Garrettsville for 36 years, beginning at Valu King in 1987. Darlene quipped, “Between us, we’ve got 90 years of experience.” The Valu King store was located where Save A Lot currently resides. They transitioned that store into a Giant Eagle at the same location. Since moving to the Sky Plaza location in 2008, the Hoffman’s store has been firmly rooted in the community as Sky Plaza IGA. Rich added, “Our employees’ dedication to great customer service has allowed us to continue serving our community.”
Throughout the years, the Hoffmans have been a staple in the community, supporting schools, the Chamber of Commerce, churches, festivals, clubs, and organizations. The grocer collects money at its registers for food and pantry items for the Nelson-Garrettsville Community Food Cupboard and local People Tree Charity year-round, to the tune of over $5,600 since 2020 alone.
“The relationships they’ve built within their stores and throughout their communities run deep with friendships and some with family legacies,” said IGA CEO John Ross. “The Hoffmans and their team have established a reputation of local ownership and commitment to not only shoppers but their respective neighborhoods.”
In addition to presenting an award to Rich and Darlene, IGA CEO John Ross presented the store’s employees with a check to use to celebrate their hard work that helped make the store’s award possible. Rich took a moment to publicly thank long-time employees for their part in helping the store achieve this prestigious honor.
Darlene enjoys the people and the sense of community, “Seniors look for us at the store, and we look for them.” Throughout the morning of the local recognition, Darlene and Rich were greeted by long-time customers who congratulated them, giving hugs and stopping to reminisce about their shared years in the Village.
“It’s not uncommon to see us on the floor stocking shelves, or in the aisles talking to customers,” Darlene explained. Rich added, “I don’t ask my employees to do anything I wouldn’t do.” Although Darlene officially retired last year, Rich is still a daily fixture at the family-run store.
The couple thrives on interacting with the Garrettsville community. “We help scouts deliver in-store announcements on our intercom system during cookie or popcorn sales,” Darlene noted. “And when little ones come to the store w/their families to select birthday cakes, they get a special ‘happy birthday’ announcement, as long as it’s ok with mom or dad,” she added.
The couple resides in nearby Mantua where they raised their two daughters but considers Garrettsville their home. Darlene joked that Rich had a practice of asking the girls’ dates about their interest in the grocery business. If they weren’t interested, he’d jokingly tell his daughters they weren’t ‘the one’. Both daughters worked for the family business in their youth but have each moved on to other pursuits.
“We’ve had generations of family in our employ,” she continued. “A few folks started with us, and eventually their kids and grandkids came here, too.” Sky Plaza IGA currently employ 35, several employees with 20+ years of experience. “For many, IGA is their first job,” Darlene added.
After the corporate presentation to the Hoffmans and their team, Darlene and Rich presented a check for $1,000 from Sky Plaza IGA and Spartan Nash. The check was given to Dee Synnestvedt and Ted Lysiak, Director and President, respectively, at the Nelson-Garrettsville Community Cupboard. The donation highlights that ‘Our Family Cares’ is more than just a tagline to these generous local grocers.
The Hoffman’s store was one of only nine IGA stores selected from 1,700 stores nationwide. In addition to this local presentation, Rich and Darlene will be honored at IGA’s Awards of Excellence Ceremony at the National Grocers Show in Las Vegas in February. At that time, IGA will recognize fellow IGA Retailers of the Year from other countries; in addition, one of the IGA USA Retailers of the Year will be named IGA USA International Retailer of the Year.
