Over 55 years is a long time in any business... but that's when SaveMart Supermarkets started a new standard in the grocery business.

SaveMart opened its first store in Modesto, California on January 17, of 1952.

Known for innovation, SaveMart was one of the first supermarkets to offer customers pre-packaged meats, yard and garden supplies, plants, fresh-cut flowers and gift items, all creative concepts for the 1950’s, and relatively unheard of for the area until SaveMart introduced them.

Besides offering our customers the best in quality products, we committed ourselves to providing superior customer service.  Although service was not unique in the grocery industry, SaveMart went that extra step to make service a daily principle.  Check cashing, which is now an industry standard was just one of SaveMart's many hallmarks.

Although scanning cash registers are typical for today's supermarket, SaveMart utilized the most up-to-date cash registers for 1952.  When other retailers were working up a bill on a piece of paper and counting out change, SaveMart's registers could separate departments and were equipped with change makers.

The co-founders quickly saw the opportunity to grow in the Central Valley and began building new stores, adding conveniences for customers while keeping a hometown atmosphere.

In 1984 major growth occurred for SaveMart Supermarkets.  Along with the opening of eight new stores, a partnership was established with Mid-Valley Dairy that produces Sunnyside Farms products.  The company expanded throughout the 1980’s and the largest annual growth in SaveMart’s history occurred in 1989 with the acquisition of twenty-seven Fry’s supermarkets located in the East Bay area.

SaveMart Supermarkets is a privately held food chain headquartered in Modesto California.  The company operates stores throughout the Central Valley and San Francisco Bay area, under the names of SaveMart, S-Mart Foods.

SaveMart also owns SMART Refrigerated Transport, a trucking firm that transports dry groceries, frozen foods, ice and novelties to all of SaveMart’s stores.  In addition to transporting SaveMart’s merchandise, the trucking firm works as an outside contractor hauling products for other retailers.

SaveMart is committed to working with the communities and businesses that they serve.  Some of SaveMart’s major marketing events include sponsorship of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Race at Infineon Raceway, producing the Coca-Cola Modesto Relays, The SaveMart Shootout Toyota Pro Am Charity Golf Tournament at Riverbend, and the SaveMart Center at Fresno State University in Fresno California.

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SaveMart was founded on, and 56 years later, continues to believe strongly in giving back to the community they serve. The company encourages store managers to get involved with their local community and pays for managers to join the local Chamber of Commerce and one other civic organization of their choice.  SaveMart’s giving is targeted towards Children’s humanities,education, health needs and food for children and family’s with children.  This year alone SaveMart has donated over one and 1/2 a million dollars to organizations throughout their market area.

Some of the many organizations SaveMart contributes to include MDA, Northern California Special Olympics, City of Hope, Children’s Hospitals, the MacDonald House, the Salvation Army, American Cancer Society, the Center for Human Services, Habitat for Humanity, the Arts Council, Big Brothers & Big Sisters, Sister Cities International, Junior Colleges, all public and private schools, health agencies in their market areas and many more local civic organizations.

Today SaveMart operates 245 stores, SMART Refrigerated Transport, Yosemite Wholesale Warehouse in Merced, Yosemite Advertising in Modesto, and is a voting partner in Super Store Industries (SSI).  SSI owns and operates a distribution center in Lathrop, Mid Valley Dairy in Fairfield and SunnySide Farms Ice Cream Plant in Turlock.

Bob Piccinini, Chairman and CEO of SaveMart stated; “Our future looks bright as we continue to grow and expand while finding practical yet innovative ways to serve our customers.  Most of all, we continue to perfect daily the things that we were built on...quality and service.