HOLT’S IGA may bear Dan Holt’s name, but this hometown grocer’s greatest success is carried on the shoulders of his team.
Holt never set out to own a grocery store.
In October 2016, he bought a Fayetteville shopping center, expecting rent checks from Piggly Wiggly. Two weeks later, they turned over the keys to Holt.
“I decided to purchase the inventory and equipment and try to operate the store myself,” he said, leaning on his family’s business roots.
A 9-month remodel birthed Holt’s IGA, and mid-rebuild, Joe Lauria approached with an offer.
“I’ve been seeing what you’re doing, and I want to help,” he said to Holt.
And he did. He turned a struggling store right side up.
“He changed the whole culture of our store, from the way we stocked the shelves and displays, the cleanliness of the store, the way we greeted our customers and many other positive ways he has impacted our store. Joe brought a sense of pride and accountability to our team,” Holt shared.
With this revitalized team culture in place, Holt’s IGA was better equipped to face the challenges of competing with large chains, leveraging its customer service and community support strengths to stand out in the market.
“We just get up and go to work each day with a good attitude and try to take care of the needs of our customers. We do have a huge advantage over them with our fresh meat department and our customer service,” Holt explained. “We also have the advantage of passing on some great deals each week, which are passed on to us from our buying group. We usually have over a thousand items on sale at any given time.”
Holt’s leadership and his team’s dedication have not gone unnoticed.
The Independent Grocers’ Association (IGA) designated Holt’s IGA as a five-star retailer for 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
In 2024, meat cutter Brandon Cartwright, a store veteran, earned a national award, and Holt’s IGA won IGA USA Retailer of the Year. Again, Holt points back to the difference others make in the store’s success.
“The credit goes to Joe, General Manager Nathan Webb, and the great team they’ve assembled.”
And, of course, without the Lincoln County community, there’d be no Holt’s IGA.
Holt said, “We are very thankful for the support from our community. I feel, as a small business owner in my hometown, that I should do my best to help others when they ask. I see this as a chance to bless others and know that doing the right thing to help others will always come back to benefit our team as well.”
Holt’s heart for his team is evident.
“At Holt’s IGA and our other businesses, we have outstanding people who work hard each day to provide for themselves and their families. While it may be a store for most people, to our team members, it is their livelihood. I am very thankful to every one of them and thankful to our customers that do business with us.“
It’s the heartbeat of the community.
“I am very proud to live here,” declared Holt. GN
Holt’s IGA is located at 2762 Huntsville Hwy. # B, Fayetteville, (931) 433-6772. Visit holtsiga.net and follow the store on Facebook.
