Piggly Wiggly vs Save - A - Lot
Piggly Wiggly vs Save - A - Lot: Piggly Wiggly costs $340K–$596K to open; Save - A - Lot costs $140K–$775K. Piggly Wiggly has 55 units, Save - A - Lot has 37. SBA loan history: Piggly Wiggly = 69 loans (8.7% default); Save - A - Lot = 41 loans (7.3% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet, see the comparison below.
Piggly Wiggly vs Save - A - Lot: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Data-driven differentiation pulled from FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan-level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
Save - A - Lot requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($140K vs $340K for Piggly Wiggly), a 143% spread.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Piggly Wiggly operates 55 units to Save - A - Lot's 37. Piggly Wiggly has been operating 77 years (founded 1949) versus 49 for Save - A - Lot (founded 1977), a 28-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Piggly Wiggly has the deeper SBA lending track record with 69 historical 7(a) approvals versus 41 for Save - A - Lot.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 8.7% for Piggly Wiggly and 7.3% for Save - A - Lot, Save - A - Lot has the cleaner historical loss profile by 1.4 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 61 (Moderate) for Piggly Wiggly and 40 (Fair) for Save - A - Lot, giving Piggly Wiggly the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 61/100 | 40/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 69 | 41 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 8.7% | 7.3% |
Peer Tier | established | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $340K – $596K | $140K – $775K |
Franchise Fee | $30K | N/A |
Royalty Rate | 4% | N/A |
Ad Fund | 2% | N/A |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 55 | 37 |
Franchised Units | 55 | 37 |
Company-Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 5 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1949 | 1977 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | Keene, NH | Benzonia, MI |
Category | Supermarkets | Supermarkets |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | N/A |
Which Is Better, Piggly Wiggly or Save - A - Lot?
Lower upfront capital required
Save - A - Lot
Piggly Wiggly: $340K starting · Save - A - Lot: $140K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Piggly Wiggly
Piggly Wiggly: 69 SBA loans · Save - A - Lot: 41 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
Save - A - Lot
Piggly Wiggly: 8.7% · Save - A - Lot: 7.3%
Larger system & brand presence
Piggly Wiggly
Piggly Wiggly: 55 units · Save - A - Lot: 37 units
More lender financing options
Piggly Wiggly
Piggly Wiggly: 35 unique lenders · Save - A - Lot: 28 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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About These Franchises
Piggly Wiggly vs Save - A - Lot: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Piggly Wiggly and Save - A - Lot is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $140K to $775K.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories, Piggly Wiggly with 69 SBA loans and Save - A - Lot with 41. This means proven lender acceptance and established underwriting paths for franchise buyers.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
Piggly Wiggly vs Save - A - Lot, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Piggly Wiggly or Save - A - Lot?
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