Save - A - Lot vs Super Valu Supermarket
Save - A - Lot vs Super Valu Supermarket: Save - A - Lot costs $140K to $775K to open; Super Valu Supermarket costs $72K to $1.0M. Save - A - Lot has 37 units, Super Valu Supermarket has 20. SBA loan history: Save - A - Lot = 41 loans (7.3% 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 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 $140K for Save - A - Lot), a 94% spread.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Save - A - Lot operates 37 units to Super Valu Supermarket's 20. Super Valu Supermarket has been operating 100 years (founded 1926) versus 49 for Save - A - Lot (founded 1977), a 51-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Save - A - Lot has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 41 7(a) approvals compared with 21 for Super Valu Supermarket. Save - A - Lot's peak SBA year was 2012 (5 loans); Super Valu Supermarket's peak was 1992 (6 loans). Save - A - Lot's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Save - A - Lot has the most SBA funded units in MI, with 9. 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 deals is $439K vs $409K for Super Valu Supermarket, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 7.3% for Save - A - Lot and 4.8% for Super Valu Supermarket, Super Valu Supermarket has the cleaner SBA loss record by 2.5 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 40 (Fair) for Save - A - Lot 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 | 40/100 | 44/100 |
Health Tier | Fair | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 41 | 21 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 7.3% | 4.8% |
Peer Tier | established | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $140K to $775K | $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 | 37 | 20 |
Franchised Units | 37 | 20 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1977 | 1926 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | Benzonia, MI | WINTHROP, MN |
Category | Supermarkets | Supermarkets |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Save - A - Lot or Super Valu Supermarket?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Save - A - Lot: $140K starting · Super Valu Supermarket: $72K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Save - A - Lot
Save - A - Lot: 41 SBA loans · Super Valu Supermarket: 21 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Super Valu Supermarket
Save - A - Lot: 7.3% · Super Valu Supermarket: 4.8%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Save - A - Lot: 37 units · Super Valu Supermarket: 20 units
More lender financing options
Save - A - Lot
Save - A - Lot: 28 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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About These Franchises
Save - A - Lot vs Super Valu Supermarket: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Save - A - Lot 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 has 41 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 vs Super Valu Supermarket, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Save - A - Lot or Super Valu Supermarket?
How much does a Save - A - Lot franchise cost compared to Super Valu Supermarket?
Can I finance Save - A - Lot or Super Valu Supermarket with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Save - A - Lot 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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