Save-A-Lot Food Stores vs Super Valu Supermarket
Save-A-Lot Food Stores vs Super Valu Supermarket: Save-A-Lot Food Stores costs $180K to $1.0M to open; Super Valu Supermarket costs $72K to $1.0M. Save-A-Lot Food Stores has 19 units, Super Valu Supermarket has 20. SBA loan history: Save-A-Lot Food Stores = 23 loans (13.0% default); Super Valu Supermarket = 21 loans (4.8% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Save-A-Lot Food Stores vs Super Valu Supermarket: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on 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
Super Valu Supermarket requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($72K vs $180K for Save-A-Lot Food Stores), a 148% spread.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Super Valu Supermarket operates 20 units to Save-A-Lot Food Stores's 19.
SBA Lending Profile
Save-A-Lot Food Stores has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 23 7(a) approvals compared with 21 for Super Valu Supermarket. Save-A-Lot Food Stores's peak SBA year was 2021 (11 loans); Super Valu Supermarket's peak was 1992 (6 loans). Save-A-Lot Food Stores's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Save-A-Lot Food Stores has the most SBA funded units in MI, with 5. Super Valu Supermarket leads in MN, with 7. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Save-A-Lot Food Stores deals is $904K vs $409K for Super Valu Supermarket, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 13.0% for Save-A-Lot Food Stores and 4.8% for Super Valu Supermarket, Super Valu Supermarket has the cleaner SBA loss record by 8.2 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 28 (Fair) for Save-A-Lot Food Stores and 44 (Fair) for Super Valu Supermarket, giving Super Valu Supermarket the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 28/100 | 44/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 23 | 21 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 13.0% | 4.8% |
Peer Tier | growing | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $180K to $1.0M | $72K to $1.0M |
Franchise Fee | N/A | N/A |
Royalty Rate | N/A | N/A |
Ad Fund | N/A | 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 | 19 | 20 |
Franchised Units | 19 | 20 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | N/A | 1926 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | Aurora, IL | WINTHROP, MN |
Category | Supermarkets | Supermarkets |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Save-A-Lot Food Stores or Super Valu Supermarket?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Save-A-Lot Food Stores: $180K starting · Super Valu Supermarket: $72K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Save-A-Lot Food Stores
Save-A-Lot Food Stores: 23 SBA loans · Super Valu Supermarket: 21 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Super Valu Supermarket
Save-A-Lot Food Stores: 13.0% · Super Valu Supermarket: 4.8%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Save-A-Lot Food Stores: 19 units · Super Valu Supermarket: 20 units
More lender financing options
Tie
Save-A-Lot Food Stores: 19 unique lenders · Super Valu Supermarket: 19 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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Save-A-Lot Food Stores vs Super Valu Supermarket: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Save-A-Lot Food Stores and Super Valu Supermarket is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $72K to $1.0M.
Save-A-Lot Food Stores has 23 SBA loans on record and Super Valu Supermarket has 21. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
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.
Save-A-Lot Food Stores vs Super Valu Supermarket, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Save-A-Lot Food Stores or Super Valu Supermarket?
How much does a Save-A-Lot Food Stores franchise cost compared to Super Valu Supermarket?
Can I finance Save-A-Lot Food Stores or Super Valu Supermarket with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Save-A-Lot Food Stores or Super Valu Supermarket?
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
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