Iga Food Stores vs Piggly Wiggly
Iga Food Stores vs Piggly Wiggly: Iga Food Stores costs $147K to $1.4M to open; Piggly Wiggly costs $340K to $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, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Iga Food Stores vs Piggly Wiggly: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on 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 7(a) approvals compared with 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 SBA loss record 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 to $1.4M | $340K to $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 | 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 | 2025 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 1 yrs |
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
Tie
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 SBA default rate
Piggly Wiggly
Iga Food Stores: 12.2% · Piggly Wiggly: 8.7%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
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.
Need Funding for Iga Food Stores or Piggly Wiggly?
PeerSense connects you with 500+ SBA lenders and capital sources. Our referral fee is established upfront and paid at closing.
SBA Lenders & Capital Sources
Retainers or Consulting Fees
10% Down Franchise Loans
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.
Iga Food Stores has 49 SBA loans on record and Piggly Wiggly has 69. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
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
Which is a better franchise investment, Iga Food Stores or Piggly Wiggly?
How much does a Iga Food Stores franchise cost compared to Piggly Wiggly?
Can I finance Iga Food Stores or Piggly Wiggly with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Iga Food Stores or Piggly Wiggly?
Talk to PeerSense
Tell us which brand and your budget. We source capital from lenders who have already funded deals in these systems.
Franchise / SBA 7(a): The desk will reach out. No obligation.
Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; it does not lend, fund, or approve loans, and the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman