Versailles IGA is Retailer of the Year
WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT PHOTO
Pictured above from left are some of the employees at the Versailles IGA Store - Carrie Woods, Bobby Cantley, Stephanie Ketchum, Mari Tekulve, John Martin, Dustin DeBord, Doug West, Ricky Combs, Mary Vanosdol, Gracie Bruno Rodriguez, Shannon McKane, Cassie Russell, Marilyn Manlove and Kelly Gutzwiller.
The Versailles IGA has been awarded IGA 2026 Retailer of the Year after they were selected by their wholesaler, Association Wholesale Grocers (AWG). What an honor it was for Versailles to be chosen one of the nine winners out of a pool of 2,700 give or take a few.
Kelly Gutzwiller, co-owner of the local grocery store with her brother, Daren Wood and mother, Dotty Wood, said she was surprised and excited when she heard the news. She was quick to point the reason for the nomination to her hard-working employees, those who came before her (her dad, Robert or Bobby as most people knew him) and ultimately, God.
Gutzwiller with husband, David and Daren and wife, Lisa, all made the trip to Las Vegas recently to receive the award, thanks to the generosity of their wholesaler, AWG.
“Thanks to a great foundation, we have continued to build,” Gutzwiller noted. She said they have updated the store and haveplans for much more in the future. Sometimes it’s the little things you don’t see that have been upgraded, but slowly, they are working to make everything first class.
This is a special year for IGA Corporate as they celebrate 100 years. “We will be having lots of specials and will have a big celebration in May for our customers,” Gutzwiller told The Versailles Republican.
“We love our customers and love the way this town cheers for each other,” Gutzwiller said. She is thankful for a great management team and all their employees, which total 33. It really takes everyone doing their part to make a business run like a well-oiled machine, and she says everything is in place. “There’s always room for improvement and we are working on making our store the best it can be,” she said.
From the friendly greeting when you enter the store, through the colorful and fresh produce section on to the back meat counter, the store boasts the touch of people who care. They have their own meat cutter who will custom cut meat for their customers. They have fresh dairy and frozen products, along with a full scale hot and cold deli that serves lunch specials daily. They also have unique items you don’t find at every grocery store!
The store is exactly what Dotty and Robert Wood had in mind when they opened it on Friday, December 13, 2014. A little history from the store revealed that the Sunday of the first week the store opened, the Woods were on their way home from church when they saw a little lady riding her motorized cart to the store. Robert said he looked over at his wife and said, “right there is the reason that you’ve got to keep a store in the town.” Robert was there for what worked and what didn’t work as he made changes along the way. He said he never dreamed of being in the grocery business. You could find him stocking shelves, ordering product or talking with customers on a daily basis. He was never too busy to stop and talk. He played gospel music in the store and made no apology for his faith.
Then the county was hit hard with COVID. It was something that ravished the county and took the life of Robert as he worked hard to provide good quality food for everyone. It left the community devastated, but not without hope.
In an interview many years before, Robert said, “I’ll be here until somebody who I’m satisfied can keep it going comes along.” He didn’t know that prophetic statement would include his own wife and children, who stepped up and not necessarily in his shoes – because no one could fill them – but the proof is in the awards they have been getting and the satisfaction of the customers who keep coming back to make it happen.
Gutzwiller is quick to say it started with the passion her dad had to help others, and continues with them as they strive to make the store a shining light in many ways.
