ST. LOUIS — Save-A-Lot here on Wednesday said it formed a partnership with an established Houston grocer to operate six former Save-A-Lot stores in South Texas under a co-branded format known as El Ahorro Save-A-Lot.

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The new company, Adventure Supermarkets, combines the Save-A-Lot brand with a local operator, Rafael Ortega, and will help the company reach its goals of expanding and better serving the Hispanic markets, Save-A-Lot said.

“This relationship is a new business model for the company,” Bill Shaner, president and chief executive officer of Save-A-Lot, said in a statement. “Combining Mr. Ortega's local insights with the power of the Save-A-Lot network of stores and exclusive-label expertise will enhance our ability to provide our Hispanic customers in this part of the country with the products and services they need and want, while positioning the Save-A-Lot brand for growth.”

Ortega has 24 years of experience serving the Hispanic community in the Houston area and operates 15 El Ahorro supermarkets and almost 100 La Michoacana meat markets in South Texas. The six El Ahorro Save-A-Lot stores began operating at the end of May. Save-A-Lot is a division of Supervalu, Minneapolis.