St. Louis, MO (May 28, 2024) – Save A Lot, one of the largest discount grocery chains in the U.S., today announced the accomplishments of 9 of its Retail Partners, sharing the names of the owners and operators honored at the company’s annual Retail Partner Awards. The awards were presented during the Company’s annual meeting and food show for store owners and operators, held in St. Charles, Mo. Awards were given to recognize performance in calendar year 2023 across five categories: year-over-year customer count growth; year-over-year sales growth; store managers of the year; “Hometown Hero”; and Retail Partner of the Year. Retail Partners were divided into groups based on the number of stores owned (1 to 4, 5-10 and 11+ locations).
Award Winners: Customer Count Growth Given to stores with the highest year-over-year customer count growth for full year 2023. • 1-4 Store Owner: Portland, ME, owned & operated by John Hammontree • 5-10 Store Owner: Pinckneyville, IL, owned & operated by the Sauer Group • 11+ Store Owner: Denver, CO-Leetsdale, owned & operated by Leevers Supermarkets Award Winners: Sales Growth Given to stores with the highest year-over-year sales growth for full year 2023. • 1-4 Store Owner: N. Charleston, SC, owned & operated by Shannon McPherson • 5-10 Store Owner: Pinckneyville, IL, owned & operated by the Sauer Group • 11+ Store Owner: Denver, CO-Leetsdale, owned & operated by Leevers Supermarkets
Award Winners: Store Managers of the Year Given to store managers with outstanding performance in 2023 across numerous factors, including sales, customer service, and teamwork. • 1-4 Store Owner: Kristen Hammond, Dyersburg, TN owned & operated by Joey Hays • 5-10 Store Owner: Pamela Waters, Detroit, MI (Houston-Whittier), owned & operated by the Rabban Brothers/Jimmy Rabban • 11+ Store Owner: Adan Olivas, Denver, CO-Leetsdale, owned & operated by Leevers Supermarkets
Award Winner: Hometown Hero – Houchens Food Group As local owners and operators, Save A Lot Retail Partners often go above and beyond to demonstrate their commitment to and support of the communities they serve. The Hometown Hero award recognizes the Retail Partner who consistently demonstrates that a huge heart is a critical piece of the business. The 2023 Hometown Hero award was given to Houchens Food Group. The Bowling Green, KY-based business goes out of their way to integrate community into each of their 88 Save A Lot stores. They support dozens of causes in the eight states they operate. Giving back is a year-round initiative for the Houchens Food Group and includes regular partnerships with local police and fire departments to Cram the Cruiser which aims to fill first responder vehicles with food to donate locally. They also surpassed $1M in lifetime donations to St. Jude’s Research Hospital. They raised over $25,000 during their 29th annual Save A Lot Raceday in Hazard, Kentucky with all the proceeds going to local charities. Also in 2024, they raised over $55,000 for the Center for Courageous Kids. When a natural disaster struck communities where their stores operate, Houchens Food Group donated to help local communities begin to recover. Award Winners: Retail Partner of the Year The Retail Partner of the Year award is given to Retail Partners who demonstrate outstanding results across the business on all metrics (sales, customer count, purchases) as well as demonstrate outstanding community involvement, team engagement and a commitment to the Save A Lot brand image.
1-4 Store Owner: Shannon McPherson, Tennessee and South Carolina Led by owner and operator Shannon McPherson, his stores saw an increase in sales by more than 8 percent. Customer count grew by over 4 percent and he grew his store count to two in the Charleston, South Carolina area and one in Lexington, Tennessee. McPherson’s proven track record of growing successful Save A Lot businesses over the past 20 years, while also helping provide insight to others to help them grow makes him a standout.
5-10 Store Owner: Anchor Foods, Kentucky Led by Lori Stivers, Anchor Foods has established itself as a group who exemplifies what fresh, full, friendly, and clean stores look like. Their eight stores across Kentucky are regularly merchandised for the season. Anchor Foods also has a policy of promoting from within. Lori Stivers, the current president of Anchor Foods, started as an associate and worked her way up through the ranks to where she is today. It’s not unusual to find store managers who have only ever worked for Anchor Foods. In fact, the first hourly employee ever hired by Anchor Foods is still with the Company, 34 years later.
11+ Store Owner: Houchens Food Group, Kentucky Led by Vice President of Retail Operations Danny Wilson, Houchens Food Group are Retail Partners committed to providing fresh, full, friendly and clean stores for the 88 communities where their Save A Lot stores operate. Their ongoing investment in their people and their fleet of stores continues to pay off with their customers. In 2023 they finished full remodels of their stores and saw fantastic customer support across each grand re-opening. “All of these Retail Partners is what we’d consider ‘best-in-class’ operators,” said Fred Boehler, CEO of Save A Lot. “Their commitment to their people and communities to deliver fresh, full, friendly and clean stores is commendable. We’re proud they’re part of the Save A Lot network.” About Save A Lot Founded in 1977, Save A Lot is the largest independently owned and operated discount grocery store chain in the U.S., with approximately 800 stores in 32 states. True to its mission of being a hometown grocer, Save A Lot provides unmatched quality and value to local families. Customers enjoy significant savings compared to traditional grocery stores on great tasting, high quality private label brands, national brand products, USDA-inspected meat, farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, and other non-food items. For more information visit www.SaveALot.com and follow Save A Lot on Facebook (facebook.com/savealot), Twitter (@savealot), and Instagram (@SaveALotFoodStores), or for more information on becoming a Save A Lot independent retail operator, visit ownasavealot.com.