Why Choose Our Grocery Store Business
Value Quality Community
We’re the nation’s leading independent discount grocery chain
Save A Lot stands out from the competition, but for customers and our independent retail partners, we’re not a grocery store franchise. We are the leading grocery wholesalers in the USA, with licensing opportunities specializing in value and convenience. Customers love that they can easily stop into one of our stores to find the groceries they need, whether it’s USDA-inspected meats, farm-fresh produce, pantry staples, cleaning supplies, and other household essentials. They particularly value the award-winning proprietary brands and low prices we offer that they can’t find elsewhere.
As a retail partner, you’ll greatly appreciate that Save A Lot allows you to build a thriving business using a time-tested model proven to be efficient and effective. The support you’ll enjoy along the way makes it easier than ever to grow.
Vision
To be America’s most loved discount retailer through our commitment to add unmatched value to our
communities.
Promise
As a neighborhood grocery store, we’re committed to making our customers’ lives better.
Commitment
- Value: Low prices are core to who we are.
- Quality without Compromise: We offer a 100% money-back guarantee.
- Community: We are anchored to the communities we serve.
We’re not your typical licensing opportunity – read on to learn more about how we stand out.
Our Grocery Store Business Model
Save A Lot’s business model features many advantages:
Low-cost Service Model
Save A Lot’s ultra-efficient operation model allows our retail partners to run highly productive, minimally staffed shop floors (often only two to three staff members at a time). Focusing on a limited assortment means a smaller retail footprint with minimal backroom warehouse space, resulting in lower rents compared to larger conventional grocery stores. Save A Lot also displays products in their original shipping boxes, requiring less time to restock shelves, which helps control labor and reduce operating costs.
Award-winning Private Label Brands
Save A Lot offers more than 50 high-quality, low-priced private brands, offering customers a better value for their money while providing our retail partners better margins than the national brand equivalents.
Limited Assortment
Compared to a traditional retail grocery business that offers approximately 15,000 - 60,000 SKUs (stock-keeping units), an average Save A Lot carries 3,000 items. This reduced SKU assortment simplifies operations for retail partners while providing a more efficient shopping experience, where customers can get in and out quickly with high-quality, ready-to-eat meals, great packaged foods, and fresh meat and produce options.
Everyday Low Pricing (EDLP) Strategy
The buying power of 1,000 stores delivers market-leading everyday low prices. Through our EDLP strategy, Save A Lot offers savings over supermarket franchises on private-label and national-brand products, USDA-inspected meat, farm-fresh produce, and non‑food items.
Neighborhood Focus
Local community engagement is at the heart of the Save A Lot brand. Positioned as a neighborhood value grocer, Save A Lot retail partners are able to stock products tailored to their diverse local communities, allowing independent operators (often local ownership) to better cater to customers’ needs and build relationships locally. We encourage and support our retail partners in being an integral part of the community through nationally supported programs like our annual Bags for A Brighter Holiday promotion and other charitable partnerships.
World-class Distribution
Save A Lot operates 13 dedicated distribution centers to keep its stores stocked with a reduced number of SKUs, allowing for greater operational efficiency, higher velocity, and increased buying power. This simpler, more efficient sourcing process allows Save A Lot to pass on better margins to its retail partner customers and better prices to its end grocery consumers.
Brand Reinvestment and Growth
Save A Lot has recently refreshed our branding, introducing fresh prototype remodels and reinvesting capital into remodel assistance programs. These are just two examples of new assets designed to help retail partners jumpstart their business.
Retail Partner-focused Business Model
Our business strategy focuses on the success of our retail partners. We provide them with numerous valuable support services to help them see strong returns. When you contact us, ask for more information on programs like the Save A Lot Retailer Advisory Council and our Succession Planning Program.
Why Invest in the Save A Lot Grocery Store License Opportunity?
The $811.5 billion grocery store industry has been growing steadily for years, with a projected growth to continue well into the future. People rely on grocery stores, making them more recession-resistant than other forms of retail. This was especially evident during the pandemic – customers were often comfortable making trips to their local grocery store even while avoiding other businesses.
Our grocery store licensing model stands out in the industry. Our independent retail partners enjoy comprehensive support as they build their businesses from the ground up. Our model is designed to save time and money while allowing you to quickly see a strong return on your investment.
Real Estate Guidance
Location is a key success factor for retail businesses. Our team of real estate professionals is ready to assist licensees with their real estate needs, providing expert knowledge, time & cost savings, and industry best practices around lease negotiations. A store’s location, lease terms, and financial agreements positively influence future business profitability.
Ongoing Support
Save A Lot’s corporate and field support teams provide independent retail partners with the services and solutions to help them position their business for growth: from real estate site selection to store construction and retail partner onboarding to field operations and marketing and merchandising support. Save A Lot does whatever it takes to keep our independent retail partners on the right track.
Right Assortment & Dedicated Distribution
On average, we have fewer than 3,000 SKUs per store, tailoring our in-store selection to the families and communities we serve. Fewer SKUs allow much greater operational efficiency, higher velocity, and increased buying power. Our 13 dedicated distribution centers supply fresh meat, produce, and exclusive private label brands to all operating store units – providing best‑in‑class shopping.
Let’s Talk Today:
Contact Save A Lot to See What It Takes To Start A Grocery Store
We want owners who will be active in the business...
Our Operational and Financial Qualifications
- Business management and/or grocery industry experience
- Willingness to follow the Save A Lot Way
- Solid personal financial history
- Net worth of around $1 million and liquid assets of $300K (we are willing to work with outside financing)
- Readiness to invest in the community
Real Estate Considerations
- Population of 20,000 in primarily urban trade areas; 10,000 in rural areas
- Target median household income of $50,000 or less
- Total building size of 12,000 to 18,000 sq. ft.
- Typical parking ratio of 4 spaces per 1,000 sq. ft
- Ground-up, freestanding or in-line retail space
- Neighborhood/community center locations
Award-winning private label brands
Currently a Grocery Store Owner?
Consider the Benefits of Converting to the Save A Lot Program!
If you already own one or more grocery stores, converting to Save A Lot could be your opportunity to upgrade to a more competitive model. Our limited SKU system increases efficiency and profitability, while our deep discount concept allows you to leverage the high demand for savings. When you become a Save A Lot partner, we’ll walk you through the process of mastering our systems to help you revamp your locations for a stronger bottom line.
New Store/Relocation
Process Overview
Becoming a Retail Partner
- Reviewing financial statements
- Presenting licensing agreement
- Getting to know our team
- Breaking down the estimated initial investment
Building Your Retail Grocery Business
- Finding the perfect location
- Building it out to our specifications
- Marketing your new Save A Lot
- Launching your Grand Opening
Running Your Business
- Leveraging support resources
- Following our proven business model
- Building up your customer base
- Creating a reputation within the community
Let’s Review the Whole Process – Contact Us Today
Available Communities:
Acquire Operating Trading Locations
For a limited time, we are relicensing many of our corporate stores to independent retail operator locations. This unique opportunity dramatically reduces the time it takes to become a Save A Lot independent retail operator!
Do You Have Questions?
We Have Answers.
Too many to list here! Save A Lot is a favorite among customers because our shopping experience is simple. We have what they need so they can get in and get out without any hassle. Best of all, our prices are highly competitive, even with big box stores. When you also consider the high quality of our fresh meats, produce, and other grocery items, it’s no wonder customers choose Save A Lot time after time.
No, we’re offering a licensing opportunity. That means more flexibility and less fees. Unlike other licensed businesses, we provide comprehensive support at every stage. You are your own boss, but you can count on us to support you on the operations and IT side. We’re always working to keep overhead costs low, passing on savings to you and your customers. We aren’t successful unless you are!
Grocery industry experience isn’t a must, but it can be helpful! Our licensees come from many backgrounds and don’t all have experience in retail. If you dedicate yourself to mastering the Save A Lot program, you could be a perfect fit for Save A Lot.
The exact cost to open a new store will depend on variables like its size and location. We look for investors with a net worth of around $1 million and liquid assets totaling $300K.
Know that we are willing to work with outside financing.
Contact Us Today to Learn More About Our Competitive Advantages
Let's talk about your Save A Lot location
Fill out this simple contact form, and we’ll be in touch soon with more information about this exciting opportunity to break into the grocery store industry.
