By Russell Redman
Source: Supermarket News
The Save Mart Companies announced Shane Sampson as executive chairman. Sampson brings four decades of retail grocery experience to Modesto, Calif.-based Save Mart, including various executive positions at Albertsons, Sam’s Club, Ahold USA, Shaw’s/Star Market and Jewel-Osco. Most recently, he served as chief merchandising and marketing officer at Albertsons Cos., followed by stints at cannabis supplier Medicine Man Technologies (now Schwazze) and convenience/fuel retailer Jacksons Companies.
A week earlier, Save Mart unveiled its acquisition by Kingswood Capital Management, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm that also had acquired Alameda, Calif.-based Cost Plus World Market in January 2021 from Bed Bath and Beyond.
In an interview late Monday with Supermarket News Senior Editor Russell Redman, Sampson talks about his new role at Save Mart and what drew him to the Western grocer, which operates 204 stores in California and Nevada under the banners Save Mart, Lucky/Lucky California, FoodMaxx and MaxxValue. Here are edited excerpts of the discussion.