Ingles Markets, Incorporated (NASDAQ: IMKTA) stated that director nominee Rory Held would not serve as an independent board member due to his fiduciary obligations to the Sackler family, according to a company statement.

The grocery chain said Held serves as trustee for multiple Sackler family trusts, including the Crystal Trust and Data Trust, whose beneficiaries include Richard Sackler and his heirs. Ingles stated that these trustee positions create legally enforceable duties of loyalty to the Sackler beneficiaries.

The company said Held's trustee roles were not fully disclosed by Summer Road, which nominated him for the board position. Ingles noted that corporate directors must exercise independent judgment and owe undivided loyalty to their company and shareholders.

According to Ingles, Held has served as director, manager, officer or trustee of multiple Sackler-controlled entities disclosed in the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy proceedings. The company said these relationships present a structural conflict that could impair his ability to act solely in Ingles' interests.

Ingles operates 197 supermarkets across six southeastern states and is headquartered in Asheville, North Carolina. The company also operates neighborhood shopping centers and owns a fluid dairy facility.

The company urged shareholders to vote for its director candidates Rebekah Lowe and Dwight Jacobs on the white proxy card. Ingles said both candidates bring public company experience and expertise in human capital management, finance and real estate.

The statement was issued in connection with Ingles' 2026 annual meeting of shareholders, for which the company filed a definitive proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2026.