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Save-A-Lot

Discount retailer Save-A-Lot was founded in 1977 by Bill Moran as an alternative to big-box supermarkets. The chain was able to do this originally by acting as a wholesaler to independent grocery store owners and within three years the supermarket had grown from 1 to 50 stores in the South and MidWest.

Sale-A-Lot grew again when it acquired 75 Jewel T stores in Florida in 1984 and, three years later, was acquired itself by Shop ‘n Save’s parent company Wetterau Inc. In 1994, both Save-A-Lot and Shop ‘n Save were acquired by competitor Supervalu which expanded Sale-A-Lot’s reach.

During the time it was owned by Supervalu, Save-A-Lot purchased 21 discount-grocery Sav U Foods stores to expand into southern California and all 45 units of discount variety store chain Deals. Save-A-Lot grew the Deal$ banner to 480 stores before selling it to Dollar Tree in 2006.

Save-A-Lot entered a licensing agreement with Rite Aid in 2010 when it converted 10 of its existing pharmacies to co-branded "Save-A-Lot/Rite Aid" units in South Carolina.

In 2016, Supervalu sold Save-A-Lot to Onex Corporation and just one year later, former Lidl executive Kenneth McGrath was named CEO.

Key Data: Save-A-Lot

Headquarters: Earth City, Missouri

U.S. Retail Banners: Save-A-Lot, Food Giant, Pic N Save, Mad Butcher, Piggly Wiggly, Market Place, Sureway, Big Star, Greenwood Market Place, Cash Saver, Hank's Markets, IGA, price Le$$ foods, Jr. Food, Sheldon's Express Pharmacy

2020 Sales: $5.6 billion

2020 Store Locations: 1,125

Annual Growth (Top 50)

CEO: Kenneth McGrath

Source: Save-A-Lot