Iga Food Stores vs Piggly Wiggly
Iga Food Stores vs Piggly Wiggly: Iga Food Stores costs $147K–$1.4M to open; Piggly Wiggly costs $340K–$596K. Iga Food Stores has 45 units, Piggly Wiggly has 55. SBA loan history: Iga Food Stores = 49 loans (12.2% default); Piggly Wiggly = 69 loans (8.7% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet, see the comparison below.
Iga Food Stores vs Piggly Wiggly: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Data-driven differentiation pulled from FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan-level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
Iga Food Stores requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($147K vs $340K for Piggly Wiggly), a 57% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $25K for Iga Food Stores versus $30K for Piggly Wiggly, Iga Food Stores has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Piggly Wiggly operates 55 units to Iga Food Stores's 45. Iga Food Stores has been operating 100 years (founded 1926) versus 77 for Piggly Wiggly (founded 1949), a 23-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Piggly Wiggly has the deeper SBA lending track record with 69 historical 7(a) approvals versus 49 for Iga Food Stores.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 12.2% for Iga Food Stores and 8.7% for Piggly Wiggly, Piggly Wiggly has the cleaner historical loss profile by 3.5 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 26 (Fair) for Iga Food Stores and 61 (Moderate) for Piggly Wiggly, giving Piggly Wiggly the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 26/100 | 61/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 49 | 69 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 12.2% | 8.7% |
Peer Tier | established | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $147K – $1.4M | $340K – $596K |
Franchise Fee | $25K | $30K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | 4% |
Ad Fund | 1% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 45 | 55 |
Franchised Units | 45 | 55 |
Company-Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | 5 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1926 | 1949 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | CINCINNATI, OH | Keene, NH |
Category | Supermarkets | Supermarkets |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2026 |
Which Is Better, Iga Food Stores or Piggly Wiggly?
Lower upfront capital required
Iga Food Stores
Iga Food Stores: $147K starting · Piggly Wiggly: $340K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Piggly Wiggly
Iga Food Stores: 49 SBA loans · Piggly Wiggly: 69 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
Piggly Wiggly
Iga Food Stores: 12.2% · Piggly Wiggly: 8.7%
Larger system & brand presence
Piggly Wiggly
Iga Food Stores: 45 units · Piggly Wiggly: 55 units
More lender financing options
Piggly Wiggly
Iga Food Stores: 34 unique lenders · Piggly Wiggly: 35 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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About These Franchises
Iga Food Stores vs Piggly Wiggly: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Iga Food Stores and Piggly Wiggly is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $147K to $1.4M.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories, Iga Food Stores with 49 SBA loans and Piggly Wiggly with 69. This means proven lender acceptance and established underwriting paths for franchise buyers.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
Iga Food Stores vs Piggly Wiggly, Frequently Asked Questions
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