Nicole Pesco Ascends to CEO at Save Mart

Nicole Piccinini Pesco has been named CEO of the Modesto, Calif.-based Save Mart.

Most recently serving as co-president and chief strategy and branding officer, where she oversaw marketing, merchandising strategies and strategic execution, Pesco, who grew up in the grocery business, is the daughter of the late Robert “Bob” Piccinini, longtime owner and chairman of the 206-store regional retailer.

In July 2015, Pesco led Save Mart’s launch of its first new concept store format in more than 20 years with the introduction of Lucky California in the Bay Area. Under her watch, the design of the new store format culminated in several years of market research and operational restructuring.

In her new role, Pesco will aim to accelerate the market share of the company’s Save Mart, Lucky and FoodMaxx banners via a reinvigoration of each.

Her experience in retail operations extends beyond the grocery industry. After graduating from the Polimoda Institute of International Fashion Design in Florence, Italy, Pesco ran fulfillment and logistics for Claudia Ciuti Shoes, an Italian designer based in New York City. Before returning home to join Save Mart, she also completed coursework in finance, management and marketing at New York University. She also completed undergraduate coursework at the University of California Los Angeles.

Pesco serves as a board member of the Save Mart CARES Foundation and the California Grocers Association.

In addition to its retail operation, Save Mart owns and operates two distribution centers, Smart Refrigerated Transport and Yosemite Wholesale Warehouse, and is a voting partner in Super Store Industries (SSI), which owns and operates a distribution center in Lathrop, Calif., Mid Valley Dairy in Fairfield, Calif., and Sunnyside Farms ice cream plant in Turlock, Calif.