Grocery Outlet Helps Feed People Facing Hunger

BERKELEY, Calif., Aug. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the USDA, 4.8% of all U.S. Households (5.6 million) have accessed emergency food from a food pantry one or more times (USDA. Coleman-Jensen, A., Nord, M., Andrews, M., & Carlson, S. Household Food Security in the United States in 2010). That's why Grocery Outlet (www.groceryoutlet.com) stepped up to the plate with the company-wide Independence from Hunger food drive to help feed people facing hunger and dealing with food insecurity.

On behalf of their 164 stores, Grocery Outlet is proud to present $292,000 in cash, gift card and food donations to help support 170 local food assistance agencies in California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Arizona and Nevada.

"We are humbled by the generosity of our community of independent operators and customers, and grateful to be able to help people who don't always know where they'll find their next meal," said MacGregor Read, Co-CEO, Grocery Outlet Inc.  "Our team of independent owners and operators are so committed to their local communities."

Throughout July, a time when food banks experience the greatest need, Grocery Outlet led the second annual Independence from Hunger food drive.  Each of the 164 Grocery Outlet stores selected one or more local emergency food assistance programs in their hometown as beneficiary of the food drive.  To help increase awareness and drive donations and participation, Grocery Outlet stores hosted an array of events from educational seminars about local food assistance agencies to family-friendly festivals.

About Grocery Outlet
Based in Berkeley, California, Grocery Outlet offers extreme bargains on brand name merchandise, with prices often up to 50% less than conventional retailers. The largest "extreme-value" grocer in the U.S., Grocery Outlet has 164 locations in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Grocery Outlet carries refrigerated and frozen foods, fresh produce, organics, dry groceries, beer and wine, health and beauty care, over-the-counter drugs, household products, toys and gifts.  A third-generation family-led company founded in 1946, Grocery Outlet's mission has always been to provide customers a fun place to find extreme values on name brands they trust.  Most stores are independently owned and operated by locally-based families. For more information, please visit www.groceryoutlet.com.

SOURCE Grocery Outlet