MODESTO, Calif. — As consumers across California and Nevada continue to grapple with high food prices and reduced assistance benefits, The Save Mart Companies is rolling out a wide-ranging initiative aimed at making groceries more affordable and accessible for the communities it serves.
The regional grocer — which operates 191 Save Mart, Lucky, and FoodMaxx stores — on October 30 unveiled its new “Right By You” Affordability Promise, a 12-point plan combining deep discounts, expanded food-access programs, and community partnerships to provide what company president Jim Perkins described as “tangible relief” for local families.
“When families tell us they're choosing between groceries or gas, between meat on the table or medicine in the cabinet, we can't shrug and say ‘that's inflation,’” Perkins said in announcing the effort. “That's what ‘Right By You’ is all about — 12 programs, food bank matching funds, and community investment. We're meeting people where they are with solutions that actually help.”
The new framework groups initiatives under two themes — Food Affordability and Food Access — and will run through the holiday season and beyond.
Under the affordability banner, Save Mart and Lucky stores are hosting “50 Percent Off Meat & Produce Events” through early November, alongside guaranteed low pricing on Thanksgiving staples and a newly launched private-label meat line offering 100 percent natural beef, poultry, and pork.
The grocer is also spotlighting holiday meal packages designed to feed 10 people for under $6 per person at Save Mart and Lucky and under $5 at FoodMaxx — complete with turkey, sides, and dessert.Active-duty military personnel and veterans will receive 10% discounts on Veterans Day and throughout November (5% at FoodMaxx after the holiday), reinforcing Save Mart’s commitment to serve those who serve their communities.
On the food-access side, Save Mart is emphasizing both local engagement and digital convenience.Through its “Friends Feeding Friends” campaign, shoppers can purchase $5 or $10 Pantry Packs at checkout to support nearby food banks. The company has pledged to match up to $120,000 in donations with help from Keurig Dr Pepper, ensuring funds remain in the same communities where they are raised.
Save Mart is also extending its partnership with DoorDash’s emergency food-response program, offering **free delivery and waived service fees for SNAP recipients**, as well as free home delivery on online orders of $35 or more through the end of 2025.Other digital initiatives include enhanced Save Mart Rewards discounts, a “Buy Now, Pay Later” checkout option for online shoppers, and expansion of its Flashfood program, which offers up to 50 percent off items nearing their sell-by date. Flashfood is now available at all Lucky stores and 11 Save Mart locations in Modesto.
Beyond pricing and programs, Save Mart plans a series of community events and sponsorships through year-end — from parade participation to food-bank drives — to reinforce its “Right By You” promise in neighborhoods across its California and Nevada footprint.The company said the effort reflects its long-standing role as a locally rooted grocer that invests in its communities through initiatives such as The CARES Foundation, which has contributed more than $5 million to children and families over the years.
With inflation and reduced government benefits continuing to challenge lower- and middle-income households, regional grocery chains like Save Mart are finding new ways to compete on value while preserving local ties. By coupling price relief, food-bank funding, and digital convenience, Save Mart aims to position its banners as a dependable ally to families during an uncertain economy.The “Right By You” Affordability Promise, Perkins emphasized, is not a short-term promotion but part of a longer-term shift toward helping communities “weather today’s challenges and build confidence in tomorrow.”
