Grocery Outlet Holding Corp. has completed its 16th annual Independence from Hunger food drive, raising more than $4 million to support local food banks.
From June 24-July 31, all locally owned and operated Grocery Outlet stores received donations through in-store contributions nationwide. Stores also collected pre-assembled grocery bags that were allocated to local food banks. 
This year, Grocery Outlet expanded the reach of the campaign through a new partnership with Feeding America, allowing customers to donate online to support hunger relief efforts on a national scale. Online donations supported the Alameda County, L.A. Regional, Oregon and Central Pennsylvania food banks, while in-store donations were distributed to donation partners of each local store’s choice.
“The true power of Independence from Hunger has always been communities helping communities,” said Jason Potter, president and CEO of Grocery Outlet. “Raising more than $4 million is an extraordinary achievement, but what inspires me most is the shared mission behind it. Together with our independent operators, customers, supplier partners and employees, we are helping ensure more families have access to the meals and support they need.”
Grocery Outlet debuted a four-day national livestream event during the campaign. The livestream featured real-time donation challenges, giveaways, local store spotlights and stories from independent operators across the country, highlighting the grassroots impact of the campaign in communities nationwide.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, nearly 48 million people, including 14.1 million children, experienced food insecurity in 2024, or one in seven individuals and one in five children.
Since the launch of Independence from Hunger in 2011, Grocery Outlet and its independent operators have helped raise more than $34 million to support local food agencies across the country.
Customers were able to support the campaign in numerous ways: by donating $5 or more in a single transaction in-store or online and receiving a coupon for $5 off a future purchase of $25 or more; by purchasing a pre-made food bag containing an assortment of groceries selected by a local food agency, placed in a collection bin at the front of the store; by donating at the register, with proceeds benefiting that store’s local food agency partner; or by donating online through Grocery Outlet’s partnership with Feeding America, supporting hunger relief efforts nationwide.
Each Grocery Outlet store partnered with a local food bank to support fundraising and community outreach efforts. Several participating suppliers, including Conagra Brands and Kellanova, made product donations that were distributed to regional agencies.
Based in Emeryville, California, Grocery Outlet is an extreme value retailer of name-brand consumables and fresh products sold mainly through a network of independently operated stores. Grocery Outlet and its subsidiaries have more than 540 stores in California, Washington, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Nevada, Idaho, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, Georgia, New Jersey, Alabama, Delaware and Kentucky.
Feeding America is a nationwide network of more than 250 food banks, more than 20 statewide food bank associations, more than 10 regional co-ops and more than 60,000 agency partners, food pantries and meal programs, powered by leaders and volunteers embedded in local communities.