It began in 1986, when Save Mart's then-CEO Bob Piccinini saw the potential of the no-frills grocery store concept which offered the same products at a fraction of the price.

[7] Since 2010, the company has closed stores in Bakersfield, Clovis, Delano, Elk Grove, Folsom, Fresno, Kerman, Larkspur, Madera, Merced, Milpitas, Modesto, Sparks, Sanger, San Pablo, Tracy and Yuba City, due to competition, higher prices and other reasons.

[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] In a 2013 settlement with 35 California district attorneys, the company agreed to pay $2.55 million in civil penalties, costs and expenses for violating state law on storage, handling and disposal of hazardous materials, including bleaches, batteries, electronic devices, ignitible liquids, aerosol products and cleaning products.

A U.S. Department of Labor investigation found the company failed to include bonuses in the employee rate of pay when computing overtime.

[24] These include: United Food and Commercial Workers, Teamsters, Service Employees International Union and Machinist Automotive Trades District.