IGA National Conference, Case Study

Trading for Success

When Morris Misel was invited to speak at the IGA National Conference on the Gold Coast, the industry was wrestling with big questions: How do independent grocers stay relevant in a digital, delivery-first world? How do we turn local scale into competitive advantage?

Morris delivered a keynote that helped IGA franchisees see beyond the shopfront. He mapped the future of community-based supermarkets not as price fighters, but as hyper-local hubs that blend convenience, connection, and customisation. From loyalty programs designed around neighbourhood insights to AI-assisted stock prediction and in-store experience zones, Morris introduced a future where tech and trust coexisted.

He also explored the evolving psychology of shopping how community, identity, and even nostalgia play a role in what ends up in the basket. His keynote pushed IGA teams to lean into their point of difference: they weren’t Woolworths, and that was their power.

Shift: From independent grocery as underdog to local experience leader.

The result? Conference feedback showed renewed energy from franchisees and a surge in experimentation some launched neighbourhood-only offers, others began digitising their loyalty systems, and many started rethinking store design through a community-first lens.