Grocery Outlet announced that its 16th annual Independence from Hunger food drive raised more than $4 million to support local food banks.
Retailer reports record haul for hunger relief
From June 24 through July 31, the discount grocer’s 540‑plus stores collected donations both at the register and via pre‑packed grocery bags placed in collection bins. Shoppers could add $5 or more to a purchase and receive a coupon for $5 off a future purchase of $25 or more; they could also donate at the register. Its independent operators each partnered with a nearby food‑bank agency, directing the proceeds to meet community needs.
In‑store contributions were allocated according to each store’s chosen local partner, while a handful of national suppliers, including Conagra Brands and Kellanova, provided product donations that were routed to regional agencies.
Online partnership widens donor pool
This year the campaign added a digital dimension through a new partnership with Feeding America. Customers could click a link on the retailer’s website to donate directly to the nonprofit, which then distributed funds to food‑bank networks in Alameda County, the Los Angeles region, Oregon and Central Pennsylvania. The online channel complemented the traditional in‑store model, allowing a broader set of shoppers to contribute without stepping foot inside a store.
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The livestream event, staged over four days, featured real‑time donation challenges, giveaways, and spotlights on stores across the country. Viewers heard stories from independent operators describing how the campaign’s grassroots reach helped families in their neighborhoods.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, nearly 48 million people, including 14.1 million children, faced food insecurity in 2024—about one in seven individuals and one in five children.
Many families still go hungry.
The scale of the fundraiser illustrates a practical reality for households on the brink: a steady flow of donated groceries can bridge the gap between a paycheck and a full pantry. When a community sees a local store rallying around its food‑bank partner, it can encourage more residents to give, creating a ripple effect that may ease the strain on families already juggling limited resources.
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Since its inception in 2011, the Independence from Hunger drive has accumulated over $34 million for food‑agency partners nationwide. CEO Jason Potter called the latest milestone “an extraordinary achievement” and credited the collective effort of operators, shoppers, suppliers and employees.
Its network spans California, Washington, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Nevada, Idaho, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, Georgia, New Jersey, Alabama, Delaware and Kentucky. Each location works with a local agency to tailor fundraising and outreach, reflecting the decentralized nature of the operation.
Suppliers such as Conagra Brands and Kellanova contributed product donations that were funneled to regional agencies, supplementing cash gifts and expanding the variety of items available to families in need.
