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Save A Lot stores in Nashville acquired by local investor

J. Word Enterprises becomes discount grocer’s retail partner in Tennessee’s capital

Russell Redman

October 13, 2020

3 Min Read
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Save A Lot’s discount grocery model focuses on localized assortments and local ownership.Save a Lot

Four Save A Lot discount supermarkets in Nashville, Tenn., have been acquired by J. Word Enterprises LLC, an affiliate of real estate investment firm J.  Word Properties.

Financial terms of the agreement, announced yesterday, weren’t disclosed. The Save A Lot stores purchased by J. Word Enterprises are located at 5404 Charlotte Ave., 1113 Murfreesboro Pike, 1134 Gallatin Pike S. and 2400 Clarksville Pike in Nashville.

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With the acquisition, J. Word Enterprises becomes Save A Lot’s retail partner in Nashville, and J. Word Properties — led by president Jason Word (left) — gains ownership of the building and land at the Clarksville Pike location, the companies said.

“We are very pleased to have J. Word Enterprises join our Save A Lot network as our retail partner in Nashville,” Kenneth McGrath, CEO of Save A Lot, said in a statement. “As a local owner and operator, Jason and his team have great insight into the community’s needs and will be well-positioned to respond to and serve customers as only a neighborhood grocer can. We’re looking forward to working together and continuing to serve the Nashville community.”

Word said his Nashville-based company plans improvements and new programs for the four Save A Lot locations. To oversee the stores, J. Word has named Rachel Jones as director of grocery operations. A Nashville local and Tennessee State University graduate, Jones brings 11 years of experience as a Save A Lot store and district manager to the role.

Related:Save A Lot lands $350 million in new capital

A local real estate investor, Word grew up in Nashville’s Brooklyn Heights neighborhood. He began the venture with Save A Lot by reaching out to local markets and, through his talks with the discount grocer, decided to invest in the four stores as the retailer aims to convert corporate-owned supermarkets to local operations.

“My grandmother owned a grocery store in Brooklyn Heights, so I’m honored and excited to carry on a little bit of her legacy,” Word stated. “Partnering with a strong national brand like Save A Lot opens up so many doors for the community, and I look forward to exploring the breadth of opportunities.”

Save A Lot’s discount grocery model differs from those of competitors by focusing on localized assortments and local ownership. The company said that approach enables independent grocers under its banner to cater to their customers and communities while offering the benefits of a value grocery model: a heavy focus on private label, limited assortment, a low-cost operational model and an easy-to-shop store layout. Save A Lot stores run about 16,000 square feet and carry around 2,000 SKUs across more than 50 private brands. Through an everyday low pricing (EDLP) strategy, the retailer offers savings of up to 40% over conventional supermarkets on private-label and national-brand products, USDA-inspected meat, farm-fresh produce and non-food items.

Related:Save A Lot’s Kevin Proctor: Discount grocery model has a lot to offer independents

Overall, Save A Lot operates 14 distribution centers and has a retail network of more than 1,125 stores in 33 states, with the vast majority of the locations licensed by independent grocers. The company is owned by Canadian private-equity firm Onex Corp.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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