The Save Mart Companies names Shane Sampson executive chairman

Grocery industry veteran Shane Sampson has been named executive chairman of The Save Mart Companies, the California-based, regional grocery retailer, just one week after Save Mart was acquired by Kingswood Capital Management. Save Mart and Kingswood jointly made the announcement about Sampson on Monday.

“The Save Mart Companies team has built a wonderful operation in the Central Valley of California throughout their 70 years of serving their customers and communities,” said Sampson. “The family and leadership team have done a tremendous job in establishing and perpetuating a commitment to innovation and service, and I think there is an exceptional opportunity to invest in and grow The Save Mart Companies’ brands. I’m excited to join the company at such a pivotal time for the Save Mart, FoodMaxx and Lucky California stores. I’m looking forward to leading the team into the next phase of growth and innovation and beyond.” 

Most recently, Sampson (left) held a leadership position at Jacksons Companies based in Meridian, Idaho, and served as a Board Member on their ExtraMile joint venture with Chevron. Prior to that he served as Chief Marketing and Merchandising Officer at Albertsons Companies, where he was instrumental in driving the grocery giant’s merchandising strategy during a period of growth in which he oversaw development and innovation of digital and e-commerce strategies, rapidly scaled Albertsons’ private label brands and built customer and associate engagement across 2,300 stores. In that role, he was recognized as Mass Market Retailer’s Merchant of the Year in 2017 and received the Retail TouchPoints’ 2018 Innovator Award. 

Related:The Save Mart Cos. acquired by private equity firm

Prior to his position as CMMO at Albertsons, Sampson was also president of two separate Albertsons divisions – Jewel-Osco and Shaws/Star Market. He also previously held leadership positions at Ahold’s Giant of Landover, Walmart’s Sam’s Club and Schwazze, a Dye Capital portfolio company based in Denver. Most recently, Sampson held a leadership position at Jacksons Companies based in Meridian, Idaho, and served as a Board Member on their ExtraMile joint venture with Chevron.

He is a fourth-generation grocer who brings nearly four decades of experience to The Save Mart Companies in building brands, implementing innovative marketing and merchandising programs, and leading strategic operations.  He started his career in a local grocery store as a retail clerk and learned the grocery business from the ground up.

“We are thrilled to have Shane on the team,” said Alex Wolf, a Partner of Kingswood. “His retail acumen is unparalleled, and he has driven results across all the companies he’s been a part of leading. We’re looking forward to leveraging his significant retail experience into The Save Mart Companies’ operations.” 

Related:Albertsons chief merchant Shane Sampson to depart

Just last week, The Save Mart Companies announced that it had been acquired by Kingswood Capital Management LP, an operationally focused private equity firm based in Los Angeles with significant experience in the retail sector. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Modesto, Calif., The Save Mart Companies operates 204 stores under the banners of Save Mart, Lucky California and FoodMaxx, and serves communities throughout California and Northern Nevada. In addition to its retail operation, the company also 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.