Save Mart Closing Two Stores

MODESTO, Calif. — Save Mart Supermarkets here said it would close stores in the Northern California communities of Kerman and Sanger on Oct. 16, citing economic strain and pressure from new competitors. The Kerman store has operated for 31 years and the Sanger store for 25 years.

“Save Mart Supermarkets closes a store only after exhausting every alternative and trying everything in our power to draw more customers in to shop,” the company said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the failing economy and competition from other retailers have kept these stores from performing at the level required to sustain them.”