Grocery Outlet was founded in 1946 in San Francisco, California, by James Read, who purchased surplus government food and resold the items in rented vacant stores in and around the greater San Francisco area. Originally called Cannery Sales, the company changed its name in 1970 to Canned Foods, which was changed again in 1987 to Grocery Outlet, when James sons, Steven and Peter, took over the company.
Today, Grocery Outlet has approximately 265 locations in 4 states. The company buys overstock and closeout items directly from manufacturers. Also offered are fresh produce and meat. Some consumers have complained that Grocery Outlet sells items that are at or just past their expiration dates. CEO’s state that these dates are usually “best if eaten before” and not “will go bad by” dates. All items are pulled 7 days after their expiration dates.
The company was acquired by Hellman & Friedman, LLC, in 2014, but is operated by the Read family.
In June 2019, the company announced its plans to go public on the NASDAQ. There are currently 300 locations in 6 states. The company has frequently been referred to as the “TJ MAXX” of grocery stores.
Headquarters are now located in Emeryville, California.
Grocery Outlet was founded in 1946 in San Francisco, California, by James Read, who purchased surplus government food and resold the items in rented vacant stores in and around the greater San Francisco area. Originally called Cannery Sales, the company changed its name in 1970 to Canned Foods, which was changed again in 1987 to Grocery Outlet, when James sons, Steven and Peter, took over the company.
History
Today, Grocery Outlet has approximately 265 locations in 4 states. The company buys overstock and closeout items directly from manufacturers. Also offered are fresh produce and meat. Some consumers have complained that Grocery Outlet sells items that are at or just past their expiration dates. CEO’s state that these dates are usually “best if eaten before” and not “will go bad by” dates. All items are pulled 7 days after their expiration dates.
The company was acquired by Hellman & Friedman, LLC, in 2014, but is operated by the Read family.
In June 2019, the company announced its plans to go public on the NASDAQ. There are currently 300 locations in 6 states. The company has frequently been referred to as the “TJ MAXX” of grocery stores.
Headquarters are now located in Emeryville, California.
Earlier tonight my mom and my fiance experienced something that is so unacceptable that upon hearing it myself left me at a loss for words. Between the hour of 8:00 and 9:00 p.m on December 29, 2020 , my mother entered your location in Yakima at 2109 s 1st Street to purchase toilet paper . After she grabbed the toilet paper and placed it on the conveyer belt my fiance entered the store and my mom walked over to him to talk before she purchased the toilet paper. My fiance informed her that there was an emergency and they had to go right away . As they attempted to leave somebody that was working there for your store grabbed my mother violently by her arm and started to scream asinine and incorrect things at her accusing her of stealing from your store and stating that she had been doing it. Not only is that grossly inaccurate information, it was also a humiliating and degrading accusation that turned violent. He (your employee whom identified himself as the police commissioner) ripped at my mother’s arm as she was screaming for him to stop and that he was wrong and began accusing my fiance of being the other person involved in this supposed crime spree and proceeded to kick him in his lower…”area”. My mother feeling her arm hurting more and more by the moment was so startled and confused , that she felt her only option was to run away -so as to avoid further injury and humiliation- she painfully yanked her arm out of her coat and ran off with my fiance to our vehicle where she then drove off and parked to cry and assess the situation. Whomever it was that accused my mother and fiance of these crimes illegally and violently tried to retain them in an inexcusable manner. I will be calling the local police to file a report and have contacted a lawyer and will be pursuing a lawsuit. I would like to speak to someone at corporate about lodging a formal complaint. This is a serious manner and I would hope you’ll treat it as such..
Today I went to the store to buy my groceries when I tried to pay with a roll of coins. The manager did not accept them, arguing that she did not know if the money was correct. I offered to tell her. She refused at this time when the situation is difficult economically due to Covid -19. That woman does not have the ability to be a manager, much less human. I think that what she did was a clear act of discrimination against me for which reason I ask the store to remove her from her position since she really does not know how to do her job and ask for a response to this complaint filed because I couldn’t buy my food due to such a hateful and rude woman.
Dear grocery outlet: during this covid-19 lockdown I was finally able to get to my favorite store only to be verbally abused, publicly humiliated and my cart manhandled against my frail 60 year old body. I burst into tears while he continued to berate me. This was a security person at the front door! I have already shouted this out to Facebook and word of mouth being what it is…
I will never shop there again.
Oh my goodness ..: I had a very similiar experience when the Suppose to be uncover, no flashing or identifying under cover security guard can up to me and ask me was I going to pay for the chips and he said, “I saw you put something in your purse, I repeatedly asked him well what dud I put in my purse and he couldn’t tell me , then I continuously asked him why don’t you. Look in my purse. He never did and then told the cashier to not ring up my stuff.. Sunce when does the security guard dictate to a store who to provide services to.. then I guess the guy was a store manager who approach the schemr and refused to give me his name.. I left the store feeling totally embarrassed and shameful .. that was not a pretty situation after researching this matter I found out the security guard had not followed protocol First of all he should of wAuged d until I get to the door of the store.. 2) he should of had a manager with him when he approached me…and last he never ever asked me to open my purse nor had a woman clerk to check my purse I was so embarrassed , I didn’t know if I should Run or Hide. At this time I haven’t heard back the corporate offfice yet.. Is this the type of store with. Want.in our community’s
I look coward to The monetsitt gain that grocery outlet will be providing me with due to an u professional security guard
I really enjoy going to your Pinole CA, store regularly and have been doing so since it opened.
It’s comforting to know during this COVID-19 times, that the prices at Grocery Outlet remain reasonably priced and that the employees work hard keeping the shelves full. …..In the last few days reports of price gouging have been reported by the media, however, the “good deals” at the store remain the same as always…During this difficult time that we’re all trying to get through, it’s comforting to know your close by and can be trusted…..Good Work.
Thanks for continuing to serve the public as you have.
My husband went back to the store and they gave him a hard time the manager was name hedi and she wouldn’t let us talk to the district.manager and my husband came back feeling some kind of way she treated him really bad she was very was very rude and she gave she gave us 3 dollars off on are next purchase we spend alot of money their like 182.00 and this is the treatment we get this is all bad can somebody please call us back
I want this message to reach the store manager (Brandon) and his wife, the store owner (Dasik). This Grocery Outlet is located on De la Vina Street in Santa Barbara, California. A “manager” named Maria behaved like a prison warden, and also answers the phone, probably answers mail too. She prevents any contact with the store manager and store owner. She is vile to other cashiers, has them fired left and right and glares at customers like me. I had a horrible incident a few weeks ago during which she humiliated me in front of a crowd. She must be fired, otherwise your store will close. I, along with other customers, avoid her line like the plague.
I absolutely love the grocery outlet in Redmond, OR, however the Bend, OR grocery Outlet will not let you return items that have broken, without a receipt, at all, even for store credit. I had two of the same item, broken in the same place, and could only return the one on the receipt, even though they were clearly from the same place and exactly the same. If your in Central Oregon and love grocery Outlet, drive to Redmond. It’s worth it. I made a mistake in trying to shop with anyone but Johanna. I won’t shop in the Bend location again. I also thought items were able to be returned to a different grocery Outlet, since the Redmond store will do this. That was an honest mistake, on my part, but could have been handled better. The manager wrote his name unrecognizably on the receipt when asked for his name and needs some more customer service experience. I was far from 100 % satisfied when I left, so much for their satisfaction guarantee.
I and my wife travel a lot and we always love to find a Grocery Outlet Store, for the most part the items are great, But there is times were the items are expired, or a non expired item that is rotten. and please don’t call yourselves the tjmax of stores your nothing like tjx, They have a normal return policy and if I purchased a item and want to return it at another tjx I can with smiles and politeness and respect. I’m not treated like crap, I have been to quite a lot of Grocery Outlet Stores, I can truly say your Lodi CA is one of the worst ones, They are rude and if you return a item they and are even ruder. I think you need to re-train their employees, to be nice and remember without the customer, and they need to remember to treat all customer politely and with respect !
I was at a grocery outlet in Seattle and found some keeply thawed and half frozen chicken bags it was disgusting I mentioned it to a cashier as she felt the bag and said yep I see and put it right back in freezer and than walked away, I like shouldn’t you remove that it’s not good, she ignored me, after paying for my groceries I asked the so called owner to talk to him I told him the situation and immediately he said I shouldn’t tell other employees or cashiers they know nothing about products That I should have asked for manager, he told me she was just a cashier and some have no common sense, that she is a new employee but yet I knew differently she been there quite awhile, I said so your just going to defend employee instead of fixing the problem and removing the bad chicken, finally he says let’s go see as we walked over to freezer and oh yeah he say’s I see it should been removed they stacked the chicken way to high as he tells me how far stacks should have been, I than said ok I’m going to leave now I really not going to watch you restock chicken just thought you should know the thawed chicken was placed back instead of thrown out, he than proceeded to tell be not to speak or get attention from staff and next time approach with a calm attitude I said excuse me are you kidding I wasn’t even rude he said you were and loud, I couldn’t believe his only concern was making excuses for employees rather than safety of products selling to customers, I said ok than I will notify public health he said you have a nice day and I left, unbelievable how a owner responded to safety of food,
I will give my Sun Valley store 100 stars.
The customer service is great. I’m happy or more than happy to do my shopping there. Francisco, one of the managers there
Is amazing. And of course the rest as well.
I am a bike rider and I don’t drive I never have and I have a backpack for the essentials you need if you ride a bike in Oregon, anyway I have been a regular customer since 2014 late June and always have had my backpack on my back until I went in March and I was asked to leave it up front and I have personal property in my backpack that I don’t want to have outside my site in public it’s my right just like it’s the stores right to enforce this rule but it’s not a fair rule after all I’m 52 and I am obviously not going to try and rob the place and get away on my bike that’s insulting also it’s the principle what about your female customers they have purses and I have seen some pretty big purses and I would like to see you guys try and tell your female customers to give you their purses you wouldn’t have any customers left
Thanks again
I’m writing to ask Grocery Outlet to DISCONTINUE the purchasing of Alaskan Jacks Seafood. It is a total SCAM that this said WILD CAUGHT SALMON in Alaska and then we see PRODUCT OF CHINA ON THE BOX!! This is GARBAGE! Please watch out for your customers BEST INTEREST! Only sell REAL SEAFOOD processed HERE in the USA!! The company would not return a phone call, they don’t even say their name on their phone line. SLEEZ BALLS! We don’t want seafood processed in CHINA! GROSS!
Dear Grocery Outlet Marketing,
The Compton Herald receives your digital advertisement weekly. Compton operates a Grocery Outlet in a community crowded with supermarkets and grocery stores, including a Walmart Superstore and Food For Less nearby Grocery Outlet.
We would like to offer you ad placement in the Compton Herald for just $700.00 per month or $1,000.00 to include placement in English and Spanish, to help you attain greater market share for your very fine store.
That’s only $250.00 per week for the latter option.
Contact me anytime to discuss a package for you that includes specially written articles promoting specific products, at no extra cost.
Sincerely,
Jarrette Fellows, Jr.
COMPTON HERALD
Media: comptonherald.org
Email: thecomptonherald@ gmail.com
Dear Grocery Outlet Headquarters;
My name is Shellie Schenck, a resident of Oregon City, OR..
I apologize for me writing you in regards to a complaint I have about your cashier Tim and the female manager who were both on the night shift lastnight at the Oregon City Grocery Outlet store #72.
I brought my mom, Gwenda Praus to do her weekly shopping at the OC store yesterday on Sunday, October 29, 2017 around 5:30 pm.. Along with her purchases, she had selected 6 calenders, each priced at .99 cents. After we got to her apt. in Oregon City, my mom had checked her receipt as she always does so to make certain that all items purchased were accounted for.
Upon looking over her receipt, she noticed that Tim the cashier 0702 had mistakenly charged her for 7 calenders. This was transaction #0097.
So my husband Dave called the manager to let her know about the mistake. She placed him on hold and once she got back to him, she told him that she talked with Tim about this and that Tim told her that he counted each calender one at a time as he bagged each one, and that all 7 calenders were in the bag and none were left behind. So she suggested that we search for the 7th calender, as we already did. We searched in our car, recounted the calenders I don’t know how many times, and looked in her apt. where the calenders were placed. But there was not a missing calender.
So I placed all 6 calenders back in the bag with the receipt, Dave and I went back to the store and went into Tim’s checkout lane, where we both waited to be next. Tim did not ackowledge either of us until he was finished with his customer. I then walked up to him and explained that he mistakenly charged us for 7 calenders as my mom only purchased 6 and so to make it easier, we will gladly go choose a 7th calender. Tim told me that as he rang up each calender individually as he placed them into the bag.
I asked him to please speak with the manager. She then came up to me and told me the same thing. I told her that I apologize for this but Tim did make a mistake and counted them wrong and that I will gladly go pick out another one just to save her the hassle of a return. She then argued with me by repeating the same thing and that when a cashier tells a customer and the manager how he rang up and counted each item and that there was no calender left at the checkout lane, then it is not the cashier’s responsibility for the missing calender. I bit my tongue and told her I understand but my mom did not select 7 calenders. So she then AGAIN told me the same thing, but then told me that she will LET me go pick out another calender and the entire time after that, she kept on and on and on about it having not been Tim’s fault as he counted and bagged each one correctly and so now she is going to have to do a charge off. I think that’s how she worded it. Ughh….
I selected a calender and thanked her and left. My husband then searched in a couple of the carts upon leaving to the car, but nothing. So got back to my mom’s with the calenders, I handed her the bag with the receipt. My mom was confused as she was looking the receipt over and told me that she only sees one calender marked on the receipt.
I took the receipt and looked it over and I asked her what the problem was because there were 7 calenders rang on it. She told me that the manager and the cashier had both told me and Dave that Tim said he rang each calender up individually. I then was flabbergasted because on the receipt it only says 2015 Calenders, 7 @ .99 totalling 6.93.
I wanted so much to call the manager back and tell her this, but then decided to contact Headquarters, the appropriate way. I am a front end Cashier at the Oregon City Fred Meyer store #242 going on 30 years in May. I never treat my customers like this nor argue with them and that if there is an issue I am not able to solve, then I will make certain that management will do so. I also never make my customers feel like a criminal and a liar.
I was making fun plans during my shopping trip with my mom to be at the OC Outlet store as your items and prices are amazingly affordable. But something like this will detour me AGAIN from being a regular customer there again.
I truly hope that this ordeal is handled appropriately. We all make mistakes and we all need to take into consideration that either party, cashier and the customer, are right and wrong. And just because Tim said one thing does not mean that he rang the calenders up correctly or as he said. I having been a long time cashier myself, always listen to my customers and do not suspision otherwise.
Again, I sincerely apologize for this. But I believe in courteousness and fairness. If there are security camers in that store, then please by all means, research this transaction.
If we did make the mistake, I hope a 7th calender is accounted for. But upon leaving the store, I told the manager that my mom is handicapped and very honest. So if we should find an extra calender, then we WILL bring it to the store. But honestly, there isn’t.
Thank You,
~Shellie Schenck~
Was being overcharged. 99 cents so terrible that it required a demand for reimbursement and coddling ? You probably wasted more money in the gas it took for you to drive there for a second trip, just so you can get acknowledgment of thei mistake by the employees of grocery outlet . Customers like you are the worst , just because youre buying something doesn’t give you entitlement . Try learning some humbleness for your own sake .