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Institute of Certificated Grocers formed
The first annual meeting of the Institute of Certificated Grocers was held at a restaurant in Holborn, London, and addressed by Sir William Anson MP, the organisation's first president. The incorporation of the Institute marked the culmination of five years' work in bringing together the activities of a number of "public-spirited employers and others interested in the grocery trade" who had "begun to start technical instruction committees and local classes for the furtherance of the teaching of -
First national and local examinations held
By 1910 the Institute had 22 regional education centres which, in this year, held the first set of national and local examinations. Today IGD estimates that we have trained more than 200,000 people during our 100 years. The Post Graduate Certificate in Food and Grocery Management is still popular among those new to the industry. 1910 was also the first year that the Institute awarded prizes to students who had performed particularly well. These were sponsored by Nestle, Sir William Tate, and Jos -
More lecturers needed to meet demand
The number of regional education centres doubled to 44 and the popularity of the education and training provided by the Institute led to a "growing need for adequate provision of lecturers to meet our the ever increasing demands being made on our resources". Fortunately, the Institute's organising secretary, Mr Beeching, secured "the promise of an expert lecturer on soap and candles", which would hopefully have eased the strain somewhat. -
First annual dinner held
An annual dinner was held for the first time in 1913 and was open to members upon payment of a small charge. The President of the Institute, aiming to "make grocers and every assistant complete and efficient" wrote to around 200,000 people engaged in the trade in the UK to tell them about the Institute and its activities. By this year the number of regional education centres had grown to 70, while the number of members had swelled from 300 in 1909 to more than 1,200. -
Eligibility of "lady members" of the Institute
Shortage of male labour brings more women to grocery store work. 200 members of the Institute were serving King and Country in 1915. The Institute discussed the "eligibility of lady members" and found they had very good skills at "parcel tying". -
1,640 grocers take examinations
The 1920s saw the Institute go from strength to strength, training and educating thousands of grocers and assistants up and down the country. By 1927 the number of people taking examinations each year was regularly nearing 2,000. Educational trips abroad were being organised for members, including 100 of them visiting 'provision producing centres' in Denmark.
