Haggai, Dr. Thomas & Batenic, Mark

Dr. Thomas Haggai & Mark Batenic
Two men have been responsible for the success of the Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) and they are Dr. Thomas Haggai and Mark Batenic.
IGA was founded in 1926, and is the world’s largest voluntary supermarket network with aggregate worldwide retail sales of more than $29 billion per year.
Dr. Thomas Haggai, the first non-food executive elected to the IGA Board, has been chairman of IGA, Inc. since 1976. In 2000 Dr. Haggai was recognized with the prestigious N.G.A. (National Grocers Association) Industry Service Award for his long years of service and representation of the independent retailers and their wholesalers. In 2003 he was presented FMI’s (Food Marketing Institute) “Sidney R. Rabb Award” that is presented each year to an individual who demonstrates outstanding service to the supermarket industry.
In 2005 he completed the triangle representing the food industry’s three major associations when GMA (Grocery Manufacturers Association) honored him as recipient of their “Hall of Achievement Award” signifying his commitment and leadership to the food industry.
Mr. Batenic is current president and chief executive officer of IGA Inc. He joined IGA as president and chief executive officer of IGA USA in November 2006, and in that capacity was responsible for the domestic operations of 1,250 IGA USA stores.
In January of 2010, he was made president and chief executive officer of IGA Inc. and his role was expanded to include the additional responsibility of oversight for IGA’s nearly 5,000 stores in 44 countries outside the U.S.
Prior to joining IGA, Mr. Batenic was the executive vice president and chief operating officer of Clemens Markets, Kulpsville, Pa.
Currently Mr. Batenic serves on the boards of the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), National Grocers Association (N.G.A.), Food for All, the St. Joseph’s University Food Marketing Academy, and also serves on The Consumer Goods Forum.