BY TRACY LEE TATE
Times Staff Writer
LAKE BUTLER — Lake Butler’s own Spires IGA has been named one of eight stores in the U.S. (from about 1,600 stores) as a Retailer of the Year for the very first time. As a 2023 national winner, the store is in the running for Retailer of the Year on the international level at a competition in Las Vegas in February. This competition will put the American winners in contest with the international winners, chosen from about 6,000 stores.
The award is based on business history, reputation and community service/involvement with stores being nominated by their distributors. It comes with national recognition in the chain, a framed certificate commemorating the honor and a $500 check for a celebration with the store’s employees. IGA President John Ross visited Spires in Lake Butler personally on Jan. 8 to tour the store, meet the owners and employees and present the award certificate and check.
“I’m excited and happy about receiving this award, but I’m not really the type that wants to draw attention,” said Spires owner Mike Spires. “Think about the history – my great-grandfather, my grandfather and my dad. My wife, Sharlene, and I have worked really hard over the years to make things right and we are still working to keep things as they should be.”
Spires treats his employees like family and believes that happy employees project their satisfaction while working. The store has very little turnover of employees and has served as a first job for many local young people.
He also believes in treating his customers and community well, offering “a good product at a good price” and supporting the local community through sponsorships and donations, many which enrich the lives of local youth. That loyalty to the community is returned every day.
“Since the COVID-19 problems, when we stayed open and did all we could to keep the shelves stocked with what people needed our business has been steadily increasing,” Spires said. “The whole dynamic has changed. We got people what they needed and they remember that.”
IGA is the largest independent grocers in the world. The letters stand for International Grocery Alliance. Spires Market, which has carried several names and had several locations in the years since it was founded in 1926 by G.W. Spires, became an IGA market in the late 1960’s in its present location. The store has seen four generations of ownership by the Spires family, first G.W. Spires, then Fernie, then Tommy and now Mike.
Mike and Sharlene are looking forward to their upcoming trip to Las Vegas in February, not only attending the international competition but also the convention of the National Grocery Association on the same weekend. Mike said they look forward to meeting grocers from all over the world to see different perspectives on the business from different countries. Spires employees are looking forward to seeing the family return from Las Vegas, with the promised party set for a few days after their return.
