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Save Mart Companies is preparing to launch a new private label line of minimally processed meats as part of a broader plan designed to help shoppers cope with rising grocery prices and economic uncertainty, company executives said.
The higher-priced products, which include beef, pork and poultry, will begin appearing in stores in mid-November ahead of an official launch in December, said Andy Comer, the grocer’s vice president of marketing. The meat, which is completely free of artificial ingredients, is presented in packages marked with the name of the banner under which it is sold.
Save Mart Companies operates 191 stores in California and Nevada under the Save Mart, Lucky and FoodMaxx banners. The company also operates 11 Roth’s and Chuck’s Fresh Markets in Oregon and Washington that are not included in the new program.
“The goal of this is to actually provide families with high-quality protein (at an affordable price) to make healthy eating more accessible,” Comer said in an interview. “Meat costs continue to rise and this is a real challenge for us and our customers.”
Meat prices rose sharply in 2025, with inflation in that category reaching 8.5% annualized in September. In contrast, overall grocery inflation for the month came in at 2.7%, with prices rising 3% across the board.
“When you look at your overall food budget, meat is typically one of the products with the highest cost per package,” Zeb Early, senior vice president of merchandising for Save Mart Companies, said in an interview. “I think what we’re adding is an important part of this as consumers decide where to spend their food dollars.”
Early added that Save Mart Companies plans to further expand its branded product assortment in 2026. However, he did not reveal what types of product additions the company is considering. He said private label products account for a larger share of grocery store sales than any other brand.
The launch of the private label meat line is part of a multi-pronged savings program known as “Right By You,” which the Save Mart Company announced last week. The program includes discounts on select products, free shipping through the end of the year on orders of at least $35 through the company’s e-commerce site, and “enhanced” digital coupons in November.
Save Mart Companies is also offering a Thanksgiving-focused meal promotion that includes enough food to feed 10 people for under $6 per person at Save Mart and Lucky and under $5 per person at FoodMaxx. The special continues until Christmas.
Comer said Save Mart Companies’ relatively small size has helped it push through its savings plans on a fast timeline.
“We have a lot of advantages as a local grocer, where we can rely on a lot of local relationships, supplier relationships, and do this at scale and with the customer in mind in a way that I think larger chains have a more difficult time,” Comer said.
