ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Save-A-Lot, the national discount grocer headquartered in St. Ann, is losing its CEO.
A Save-A-Lot spokesperson says CEO Leon Bergmann has chose to resign and relocate back to California to dedicate more time to his family.
The spokesperson says Bergmann decision was personal and he announced to the company his decision back on Oct. 31.
Bergmann resignation ends less than a two-year stint with the St.Ann-based grocer. Bergmann joined the company in February 2022, from Detroit-based Harvest Sherwood Food Distributors, where he served as CEO.
Bergmann previously talked to KMOX News backed in August where he told KMOX's Michael Calhoun that he wanted to position Save-A-Lot competitively.
"When (Save A-Lot) looked at our comparisons versus national brands, (Save A Lot) was 20-40 percent cheaper," said Bergmann. "(Save A-Lot) make it easy for people to save that money."
During Bergmann time as CEO of Save-A-Lot, one of the biggest moves he made was changing the company's business model, favoring more of independently owned and franchisee business model beginning in 2020. In August, the company sold off the then-remaining 18 St. Louis-based stores it still owned.
Bergmann said at the time the decision to have all the stores independently owned fits better for them because they believed the entrepreneurs know their market better than the company did.
"Quiet frankly, they just closest to and best positioned to meet the needs of their customers," said Bergmann at the time, "You put the store operations in their hands, they are 100% focused on having the right mix of products at the right price, right quality. It will provide a much better shopping experience for the people."
Bergmann also tried to push a more e-commerce presence for Save-A-Lot, with he believing that the company was being well-positioned to grab price-conscious consumers.
"We don't need 50 thousand square feet, we need 12-15 thousand square feet," said Bergmann at the time. "The economics of that store are such that we can serve those trade areas and do it to serve a product fast."
Board member Fred Boehler will replace Bergmann on an interim basis while the board searches for a permanent successor.
