- CEO
- Jason Potter
- Full Time Employees
- 1,692
- Sector
- Consumer Defensive
- Industry
- Grocery Stores
- Address
- 5650 Hollis Street EmeryVille CA United States of America 94608
- IPO Date
- Jun 20, 2019
- Business
- Grocery Outlet Holding Corp. operates as an extreme value retailer specializing in the sale of name-brand consumables and fresh products through a network of independently operated stores across the United States. Its core product offerings include grocery staples; fresh produce; refrigerated and frozen foods; fresh meat and seafood; dairy and deli items; beer and wine; health and beauty care products; general merchandise; and ethnic and specialty foods. The company sources inventory primarily from over 4,000 suppliers and manufacturers, focusing on opportunistic buying of surplus, closeouts, discontinued, and seasonal products, which it sells at prices typically 40% to 70% below conventional grocery retailers. It also features a specialized NOSH (natural, organic, specialty, and healthy) product section, catering to customers seeking ethical, vegan, or plant-based options. Grocery Outlet’s stores carry a curated and rotating assortment of approximately 5,000 SKUs, presented to create a sense of urgency and frequent shopper visits. The company operates over 550 stores in 16 states, including California, Oregon, Washington, Pennsylvania, Idaho, Nevada, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, and others. It distributes inventory through eight primary distribution centers and maintains a combination of in-house and third-party transportation partnerships. Grocery Outlet also owns United Grocery Outlet, a closeout grocery retailer with over 40 stores in the southeastern U.S. including Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, and Virginia. Founded in 1946, the company is headquartered in Emeryville, California.
In the last one to two years, Grocery Outlet has undergone significant operational and strategic changes. The company is actively implementing a refresh program aimed at reinvigorating growth and enhancing its value proposition, led by CEO Jason Potter. It has opened 11 new stores and closed two recently, maintaining a physical retail footprint focused on expansion and operational efficiency. Financially, Grocery Outlet reported a 5.4% increase in net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2025, with adjusted EBITDA around $186 million for the first 39 weeks of the year. The company incurred restructuring costs of about $62 million connected to this transformative phase and revised its full-year guidance to reflect more cautious comp-store sales growth projections of approximately 0.6% to 0.9%. Additionally, the company experienced headwinds related to federal SNAP program funding lapses impacting sales, as SNAP payments account for roughly 9% of sales. Despite these challenges, Grocery Outlet maintained its fiscal 2025 guidance with anticipated diluted adjusted earnings per share in the $0.75 to $0.80 range and net sales projected between $4.7 billion and $4.8 billion. The company continues emphasizing digital marketing, local store independence, and operational efficiency under its turnaround plan to sustain its market positioning as an extreme value retailer.
Grocery Outlet’s business model targets budget-conscious and value-seeking consumers, particularly lower-income demographics who rely on the company's deep discounts on quality, brand-name grocery products. The company’s independent operator framework fosters localized management and community integration. Its strategic focus includes expanding product assortments with private-label initiatives and close collaboration with suppliers to maintain inventory flow despite supply chain pressures. Recent leadership changes have involved appointing new independent directors to oversee the turnaround strategy and growth trajectory.
Overall, Grocery Outlet Holding Corp. operates in the extreme value retail segment within the grocery industry, focusing on discounted closeout and surplus brand-name products to serve a broad geographic footprint in the United States. It leverages opportunistic purchasing, efficient design, and independent store operations to provide differentiated value while navigating evolving economic and regulatory challenges.
This description reflects Grocery Outlet Holding Corp.'s current product portfolio, geographic reach, ongoing strategic initiatives, and recent operational developments up to late 2025.