Save Mart names new chief merchandising and marketing officer, Chris Hooks

The Save Mart Companies has added industry veteran Chris Hooks to its c-suite as its new chief merchandising and marketing officer. Hooks previously held executive positions at Save A Lot, Family Dollar, and Topco Associates.

Hooks previously served as EVP and chief merchandising officer at Save A Lot; SVP of consumable merchandising at Family Dollar; and EVP for center store, fresh, strategic sourcing, supply chain, marketing and brand development at Topco Associates; and also spent 11 years at H-E-B in merchandising, marketing, and store operations.

Modesto, Calif.-based Save Mart, a Kingswood Capital Management LP portfolio company, has about 200 Save Mart, Lucky, and FoodMaxx stores in California and western Nevada. In addition to its retail operation, it operates SMART Refrigerated Transport and is a partner in Super Store Industries, which owns and operates a distribution center in Lathrop, and the Sunnyside Farms dairy processing plant in Turlock, Calif. As one of California’s largest regional full-service grocery chains, Save Mart employs 14,000 associates.