Store expected to
open sometime
in September


By Misti Drew
Tribune-Courier Reporter
mdrew@tribunecourier.com

BENTON – Barring any unforseen complications, Save-A-Lot Foods will soon be coming to Marshall County.

Plans to open the discount grocery store have been set in motion and are just short of finalization. The old Wal-Mart building in Benton, located on Highway 641 north has been chosen as the location.

According to Benton Mayor Steve Cary, the building will be undergoing some extensive remodeling on the inside and outside, as well as some parking lot renovations. Save-A-Lot is expected to open sometime in September.

It’s something that is generating excitement among city leaders.

“We are all very excited more business development is coming to this end of the city,” Cary said. “Save-A-Lot is a very stable company and we are certain it will do very well here for a very long time.”

Save-A-Lot boasts more than 1,200 stores nationwide, including locations in Murray, Mayfield and Paducah.

According to information on Save-A-Lot’s web site, the retail chain is unlike other grocery stores.

“We don’t have lobster tanks or latte stands. Why pay more for services you don’t need? We’d prefer to pass those savings on to our shoppers and offer the products they really want. After all, who needs 32 different brands of green beans? “We’re not your traditional big box grocery store: we save you up to 40 percent with every day low prices.”

Save-A-Lot bases those cost savings on marketing strategies such as limiting assortments and sizes of items and stocking only the most popular of each.

Save-A-Lot stores typically do not have specialty departments. All brands are exclusive to Save-A-Lot and the retail chain spends very little in national advertising.

Customers also bag their own groceries when shopping at Save-A-Lot, something the store maintains, when combined with other cost-cutting initiatives, can save customers money.

Other local grocery stores owners are being watchful, but say they are not worried about the new competition.

Ronnie and Ted King, owners of King Brothers grocery in Draffenville and Benton said they feel their store’s rich histories in the county will keep customers coming back.

“We have been serving Marshall County for almost 60 years and are planning to be here for the long haul,” Ronnie said. “We are family owned and operated and know our customers by name when they come in the store. If you ask me, that still means something.”

Greg Smith, owner of Rodney’s IGA in Draffenville had similar sentiments. “We have been serving Marshall County for more than 30 years and we don’t aim to change anything. Our business is strong and we expect it to continue to be.”

Despite a new level of competition among grocers, the new store opening is causing excitement among others as adjoining business owners see a renewed opportunity for growth.

Benton Pharmacy Manager Kirk Dripps said, “We are glad to have Save-A-Lot coming in and are looking forward to having another business located in this shopping center.

“Anytime you can draw more people out, especially during these tough economic times it’s a win-win situation for everyone.”

Save-A-Lot isn’t the only business prospect on which the Benton City Council is working.

“We are always working to contact prospects, offering incentives and doing anything we can to make this area more attractive to potential businesses,” Cary said.

Several other potential deals are currently in the works, Cary added, but until the deals are finalized, the city is keeping the details under wraps.