Dive Brief:

• Save A Lot announced Wednesday that it has made interim CEO Fred Boehler its permanent CEO. 
• The discount grocery chain named Boehler, who has been a board member with the company since 2021, as its temporary leader following Leon Bergmann’s exit on Oct. 31.
• Boehler brings more than three decades of experience across multiple retail and wholesale businesses to the CEO role, including both large- and small-scale companies in various growth phases, the discounter noted Wednesday. 

Dive Insight:

It didn’t take long for Save A Lot to land on a permanent CEO to replace Bergmann, who stepped down from the top role this fall after serving for just a year and a half.

Boehler took over the role on an interim basis beginning Oct. 31. When the company announced Boehler’s appointment, it highlighted his decades of experience in the retail and distribution industry, including his recent stint as CEO of Americold Logistics — a company he helped take public in 2018.

In Wednesday’s announcement, Save A Lot noted that Boehler’s more than two years of experience on the company board combined with his years spent across retail and wholesale make him well suited for the role. 

“Fred’s deep expertise in the industry and his understanding of wholesale and logistics is particularly powerful for the Save A Lot brand following its shift to focus to operate as a licensed wholesaler,” said Mike Motz, Save A Lot’s board chairman. “He is known for developing innovative, customer-centric supply chain solutions and has demonstrated consistent leadership in delivering against a long-term vision and strategy.”

Boehler’s new role does not include a place on Save A Lot’s board of directors. The company said it has begun the process of identifying a replacement for that position.

It’s unclear why Boehler’s appointment to permanent CEO happened so quickly, but what is apparent is the company’s need for a steady leader as it continues to navigate its new role as a wholesaler as well as an operational and marketing resource for the independent grocers that carry its brand name. Save A Lot completed its transition to a wholesaler earlier this year after selling off hundreds of corporately owned locations.

In an August interview, former CEO Bergmann highlighted the need for Save A Lot to deepen its relationships with independent operators and capitalize on the chain’s discount format. Discount chains have been able to connect with price-conscious shoppers across the country, though Aldi and Walmart are typically the top names that come to mind for consumers and industry experts.