Save-A-Lot aligns with Hispanic operator to open Houston, South Texas stores

St. Louis Grocery operator Save-A-Lot said Wednesday it has joined with Hispanic grocery operator Rafael Ortega to form a new company, Adventure Supermarkets LLC.

Save-A-Lot, a division of SuperValu, under the new entity will own and operate six former Save-A-Lot stores in the Houston and South Texas markets under a co-branded format, “El Ahorro Save-A-Lot.”

“We are always looking for innovative opportunities to bring the Save-A-Lot brand to local communities, and we think this affiliation best enables us to serve the Hispanic community in this area,” said Bill Shaner, Save-A-Lot president and CEO. “This relationship is a new business model for the company.”

The move will combine Ortega’s local insights with the Save-A-Lot network of stores and exclusive-label expertise to provide tailored products and services and position the Save-A-Lot brand for growth, added Shaner.

Ortega currently owns and operates 15 El Ahorro Supermarkets and almost 100 La Michoacana Meat Markets.

The six stores, which are located in Brownsville (one store), Victoria (one store), Harlingen (one store) and Houston (three stores), Texas, began operating under the new co-branded name, “El Ahorro Save-A-Lot,” at the end of May.