Grocery Outlet Declares ‘Independence from Hunger’

To create greater awareness of hunger and food insecurity, Grocery Outlet has rolled out its third annual “Independence from Hunger” food drive, a month-long, company-wide campaign.

Over the past two years, the Berkeley, Calif.-based chain has raised more than $500,000 in cash, gift cards and food donations through the campaign. As food banks traditionally experience their greatest need in July, Grocery Outlet will urge customers and employees at its nearly 200 stores to donate food and cash in support of local food assistance agencies.

“Our team of independent owners and operators are committed to supporting their neighbors in need, and Independence from Hunger is one way to make that goal a reality,” said MacGregor Read, co-CEO of Grocery Outlet, along with Eric Lindberg.

Working directly with local food agencies, Grocery Outlet  is offering customers the chance to help the cause in the following ways:

• Look for specially marked food items to purchase and place in the collection bins at the front of the stores.
• Make a checkout cash donation, which will go directly to the local food assistance agencies.
• Get information at Grocery Outlet stores on hunger, food insecurity and local/national resources for the needy.
• Join in-store events at Grocery Outlet stores to aid the Independence from Hunger food drive.

“Grocery Outlet is dedicated to our deeply entrenched culture of grass-roots giving,” noted Lindberg. “It has always been and will continue to be a big part of who we are.”

The largest “extreme-value” grocer in the United States, Grocery Outlet has almost 200 locations in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.