Save-A-Lot Names Former Lidl Exec Kenneth McGrath New CEO

Former Lidl executive Kenneth McGrath has been tapped to lead Save-A-Lot as its new CEO, effective April 21. McGrath will be taking over from Eric Claus, Save-A-Lot’s current CEO, whose departure the retailer and its controlling shareholder, Onex, described as a mutually agreed-upon parting.

An experienced leader in the discount grocery sector, McGrath spent 13 years with Lidl in executive roles including CEO of Lidl USA from 2013 to 2015 and CEO of Lidl’s Ireland division from 2009 to 2013.

During his tenure as CEO of Lidl Ireland, McGrath oversaw a period of exceptional customer and revenue growth while also maintaining a cost leadership position within the retailer’s global operations. McGrath was then named to spearhead Lidl’s market entry into the United States before leaving to become CEO of the Caribbean and Central America region at wireless telecommunications firm Digicel, where he had responsibility for 26 markets comprising $2 billion in annual sales.

“We are thrilled that Kenneth has chosen to lead Save-A-Lot as we chart a new course for the company after its separation from Supervalu,” said Matthew Ross, chairman of Save-A-Lot’s board and managing director of Toronto-based Onex. “Kenneth is a strong executive that brings to Save-A-Lot tremendous experience in hard-discount retailing. He is highly capable of building a world-class organization, investing in the company’s capabilities and systems, and returning Save-A-Lot to industry-leading growth by leveraging its unique market position.”

McGrath described the opportunity to lead Save-A-Lot during “this exciting phase [as] a real privilege. Save-A-Lot has a proud history of delivering exceptional value to its customers throughout the U.S., and I am looking forward to working with Save-A-Lot’s dedicated associates and licensees to serve customers in ways that enhance their experience and, in doing so, driving a period of sustained growth for the organization.”

Ross thanked Claus, who joined Save-A-Lot in January 2016, “for his contributions to Save-A-Lot over the past year. Eric is an outstanding retailer and led Save-A-Lot through a difficult separation process.”

Earth City, Mo.-based Save-A-Lot owns and operates 477 corporate stores, and services and supplies another 867 licensee-owned hard-discount grocery stores across the country. With more than 1,300 stores in urban, suburban and rural areas, Save-A-Lot reaches more than 5 million shoppers weekly.

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