Bob Buonomano has been an IGA retailer in eastern Connecticut for the past 39 years and a butcher for the last 54 years. Bob started his career in a butcher shop in Rhode Island at the age of 15 and moved on to a local supermarket chain by the age of 18. In 1974 Bob went to work for First National Stores and was promoted to meat manager with them at the age of 22. He spent the next 8 years with First National Store in their Edwards Food Warehouse division where he setup and ran meat departments that did in excess of $250,000/wk. This number would be more than doubled today with inflation. In 1984 Bob moved on to purchase his first IGA Supermarket in Eastern Connecticut. Bob’s Windham IGA has become a destination for fresh cut meat in the region, attracting customers from nearby states such as Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Progressive Grocer Independent magazine named Bob’s Windham IGA 2013’s meat department of the year, and Bob himself was named IGA USA Retailer of the year in 2009. He is also the founding member of “Help Save The Butchers”, a marketing program designed to help independent retailers realize their growth potential of their meat departments.

Join Bob as he shares his passion for growing his business during a time that butchers are being eliminated from many major competitors. He has combined event marketing and the sale of destination items to earn the confidence and loyalty of his customers by offering them a unique shopping experience.