Value warehouse-style grocer FoodMaxx opens new California location

FoodMaxx, a value warehouse-style grocer, opened a new store in Carmichael, California, Wednesday, putting The Save Mart Companies-owned banner at 54 locations, the company announced. 

The new store, located at 4708 Manzanita Ave., opened with a ceremonial ribbon cutting and on Saturday will hand out “mystery” gift cards with varying values between $10 and $100.  

The grocer also announced the store donated $2,000 to local organizations, such as the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services, Thomas Kelly Elementary School’s after-school program and the Del Campo High School boys and girls basketball program.  

Left to right: Paul Gossett, Vice President and general manager, FoodMaxx; Kerri Mandes, Carmichael Honorary Mayor; and Mike Flowers, store manager, FoodMaxx Carmichael (with scissors).

“Supporting the residents of Carmichael and nearby neighborhoods is an essential part of what FoodMaxx strives for, and we are excited to introduce the FoodMaxx value-format to this community,” said Paul Gossett, vice president and general manager for FoodMaxx at The Save Mart Companies, in a statement. “With today’s shoppers facing ever-tighter budgets, our priority is to provide this community with the very best values, day in and day out, without sacrificing quality.” 

The Modesto, California-based The Save Mart Companies, which operates roughly 200 stores in California and Nevada under the FoodMaxx, Save Mart and Lucky California banners, was acquired in March 2022 by Kingswood Capital Management LP. 

FoodMaxx describes itself as a “nonconventional grocery store” that keeps costs low by buying in bulk and stocking shelves directly from the delivery trucks that stock the stores. Similar to discount chain Aldi, FoodMaxx also cuts costs for shoppers by enabling them to bag their own groceries.  

The store noted in a press release that it accepts payment from government assistance programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), electronic benefit transfer (EBT) and the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Program.

The opening of the new store comes a few months after The Save Mart Companies launched its first retail media network via tech company Swiftly, providing functions such as coupon clipping, retail media placements, loyalty programs, weekly ads and more. 

"The Save Mart Companies' digital transformation journey is foundational to the company's growth plan, including omnichannel engagement, loyalty and efficiency," Tamara Pattison, senior vice president and chief digital officer at The Save Mart Companies, said in a statement in May. "Not only can we provide our CPG partners greater opportunities to expand their digital relationships with our growing customer base, but we can also enable them to drive greater performance and growth with improved targeting and measurement capabilities."