Horizon Group Receives Save A Lot Hometown Hero Award

ST. LOUIS, Missouri – Horizon Group, which operates 21 stores in northeastern Ohio and northwestern Pennsylvania, was awarded the Save A Lot Hometown Hero Award.

The award, presented during the company’s annual meeting and food show for store owners and operators, celebrates a Save A Lot owner and operator who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to and support of the community they serve, inside and outside the store.  

Horizon, co-owned by Henry Nemenz Jr. and his sister and brother-in-law, Elaine and John Kawecki, was recognized for supporting more than 30 local organizations that contribute to arts and culture, health and human services, civic and community projects, safety, education and the environment. 

“We are both humbled and proud of being recognized as this year’s Hometown Hero from Save A Lot. We believe in the power of staying positive and uplifting our people and communities,” Nemenz said. “At the Horizon Group, family really does come first, and we consider all of our employees members of our family. My sister, Elaine Kawecki, her husband, John, and daughter, Abby, are passionate about giving back any way we can, so this award really is wonderful recognition for our team’s dedication and commitment to giving back.”

Henry P. Nemenz Sr. opened his first Valu King store in Boardman in 1976, and later renovated or opened new stores across the region, including Save A Lot supermarkets. Horizon has since expanded the footprint of the Save A Lot supermarket brand.

Horizon’s Save A Lot stores in Ohio include five in Mahoning County, three in Trumbull County, two in Ashtabula County, two in Wayne County and five others in Stark County. Horizon also owns three Save A Lot stores in western Pennsylvania – in New Castle, Butler and Wilkinsburg, near Pittsburgh.

Horizon’s stores operate a year-round “hunger bags” program, offering a way for customers to directly support and donate to local hunger-related charities. They also work with a local ride sharing group to provide customers affordable rides to and from the store.

“The Horizon Group’s heart for giving back to the communities they operate in is truly awe inspiring,” said Leon Bergmann, CEO of Save A Lot. “They are a fantastic example of the kind of lasting impact our retail partners – and their stores – can have on a community. We’re lucky to have retail partners like Henry Nemenz and Elaine and John Kawecki as ambassadors for the Save A Lot brand.” 

Pictured at top: From left, Carl Fisher, area business consultant for Save A Lot; John and Elaine Kawecki, co-owners of Horizon Group; Henry Nemenz Jr., co-owner of Horizon Group; Damir Kordic, vice president of retail operations for Save A Lot; and Leon Bergmann, chief executive officer of Save A Lot.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.