Kenneth McGrath has been named chief executive officer of Earth City, MO-based Save-A-Lot, a hard discount grocery retailer that owns and operates 477 corporate stores, and services and supplies another 867 licensee-owned stores across the United States. He will succeed Eric Claus, effective April 21.

An experienced leader in the discount grocery industry, Mr. McGrath spent 13 years with Lidl in executive roles, including CEO of Lidl Ireland from 2009 to 2013 and CEO of Lidl USA from 2013 to 2015. During his tenure as CEO of Lidl Ireland, Mr. McGrath oversaw a period of exceptional customer and revenue growth while also maintaining a cost leadership position within Lidl’s global operations. He was then selected by Lidl to spearhead the company’s market entry into the United States before leaving to become CEO of the Caribbean and Central America region at wireless telecommunications firm Digicel, where he had responsibility for 26 markets comprising $2 billion in annual sales.

“We are thrilled that Kenneth has chosen to lead Save-A-Lot as we chart a new course for the company after its separation from SuperValu,” said Matthew Ross, chairman of the Save-A-Lot board of directors and managing director at Onex. “Kenneth is a strong executive that brings to Save-A-Lot tremendous experience in hard discount retailing. He is highly capable of building a world-class organization, investing in the company’s capabilities and systems, and returning Save-A-Lot to industry-leading growth by leveraging its unique market position.”

Mr. McGrath said the opportunity to lead Save-A-Lot during its current phase “is a real privilege.”

“Save-A-Lot has a proud history of delivering exceptional value to its customers throughout the U.S.,” he said. “I am looking forward to working with Save-A-Lot’s dedicated associates and licensees to serve customers in ways that enhance their experience and, in doing so, driving a period of sustained growth for the organization.”

With more than 1,300 stores in urban, suburban, and rural areas, Save-A-Lot reaches more than 5 million shoppers each week. Save-A-Lot stores provide a limited selection of national and exclusive store brand products with a focus on its fresh offerings, including U.S.D.A.-inspected beef, pork and poultry, and farm-fresh fruits and vegetables at price points that offer consumers savings of up to 40 percent.