ORLANDO, FL - Several months ago, Save A Lot announced its goal to convert its corporate-owned stores to local ownership, starting off with the sale of 32 locations to Yellow Banana. Now, the retailer is driving forward this mission with the sale of 33 company-owned stores to Ascend Grocery.

“Ascend Grocery is a world-class, high-caliber team of grocers who will bring an extraordinary level of experience to our stores in Orlando,” said Tim Schroder, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Save A Lot. “Their commitment to serve customers, community, and employees, together with Save A Lot’s mission of providing convenient access to high-quality foods, will be a winning combination. I’m confident their continued investment in the Orlando market will lead to a profound impact on how customers enjoy the Save A Lot experience for many years to come.”

The 33 stores being sold to Ascend are situated in the greater Orlando, Florida, area, as detailed in a release. As part of the conversion, Ascend Grocery will retain the 400 store associates who already work in the Save A Lot stores and will continue to emphasize high quality, value, and a commitment to customer service. These stores will also increase their assortment of ethnic and locally sourced foods, with a focus on fresh produce, to better serve shoppers.

“It’s an honor to partner with Save A Lot. By combining the brand’s great quality and low prices with our understanding of how to provide superior customer service and an outstanding shopping experience, I believe we can make a real impact for customers in the greater Orlando area,” commented Chris Sherrell, Chief Executive Officer of Ascend Grocery. “Our passion is in serving customers by creating opportunities for employees and in immersing ourselves within the greater community. Having happy employees who take pride in their work leads to customers having the best shopping experience in town.”

Ascend was co-founded and is led by Sherrell, the Founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Fresh Thyme Market and former CEO of Sunflower Farmers Market. Through his vast industry experience, he plans to continue building on the retailer’s seasoned team of leaders in order to drive business.

To foster further growth, at the start of this year, all Ascend Grocery locations will undergo extensive remodels to fully reflect Save A Lot’s updated brand image. This will work to enhance the shopping experience for consumers both inside and outside of the store by including new décor, upgraded flooring and lighting, and updated produce cases.

As Save A Lot furthers its mission to convert corporate-owned stores, what will come next for the retailer? AndNowUKnow will keep you in the loop with the latest.

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