When it comes to Book Week costumes, most kids turn to storybook classics – but four-year-old Jed Howard had a different idea. For this passionate young Aussie reader, there was only one character worth dressing up as: his local IGA store manager.
Jed, a proud IGA superfan from regional New South Wales, entered Australia’s Best Book Week Costume Competition dressed head-to-toe in IGA gear, proudly representing his favourite store and real-life hero, Ian Mawhood – the manager of his hometown IGA.
His mum, Renee, said Jed’s love for IGA runs deep. “If we go on holidays and there’s no IGA, he has a meltdown. He’s just IGA’s number one fan,” she shared. So when Book Week rolled around, Jed insisted on celebrating his favourite “book” – the IGA catalogue.
“I tried to talk him into a traditional book character, but he told me the catalogue is the IGA book – who was I to argue?” Renee laughed.
Jed was one of more than 100 young readers who entered the national competition this year – and certainly stood out with his unique tribute to independent retail.
Stories like Jed’s remind us just how important our IGA stores and team members are to the communities they serve. To Jed, Ian isn’t just a store manager – he’s a local legend.
From all of us at MGA Independent Businesses Australia: hats off to Jed for showing us that inspiration can come from right around the corner – sometimes even the local supermarket aisle.
