By Richard L. Gaw
Staff Writer

The Grocery Outlet, a national retailer of quality, name-brand and fresh products, opened its newest location on Aug. 28 in Kennett Square, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony that attracted representatives from local agencies and several other Grocery Outlet stores in Pennsylvania.

Located at the former Ollie’s in the New Garden Shopping Center on Scarlett Road, the Kennett Square store becomes the 72nd Grocery Outlet location on the East Coast, joining other sites in Coatesville, Parkesburg, Quakertown, Palmyra, Warminster and several in Philadelphia. Based in Emeryville, Calif. and begun in 1946, the company currently has 540 locations in the U.S. and is one of the nation’s most well-known provider of quality, name-brand consumable and fresh products, sold primarily through a network of independently owned stores, whose locations offer discounted, overstocked and closeout products from name-brand and private label suppliers. 

One of the most popular sections in Grocery Outlet is labeled NOSH - natural, organic, specialty and healthy - which has attracted shoppers who want to purchase vegan and/or plant-based) items for less.

David Gates, who along with his wife, Carla, are the owner and operators of the Kennett Square location, called the purchase “an opportunity that we couldn’t say ‘No’ to.”

“Carla and I applied for this location specifically for a number of reasons,” David said. “First, this is a wonderful area. We have a one-year-old daughter whom we want to raise in this kind of environment, where there is a sense of community. Secondly, we did a bit of research and found that in many respects, this area has been kind of a food desert, requiring many people to travel a distance to get to grocery stores. Lastly, there are no bargain-oriented markets in the Kennett Square area that offer fresh food and produce the way that Grocery Outlet does.”

Donations made to local agencies

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the Gates family made $500 donations to Kennett Area Community Service and the Garage Community & Youth Center. 

“What can we say other than how much we value our community and The Garage, and we want to teach students who attend our programs that same value of community,” said Kate Henson, the Garage’s director of development. “When we met David, we were really excited that that shared value at a new business was among us. We’re so honored to be a partner in more ways than one.”

Loren Lynch, Food Cupboard director for KACS, said that the donation will be directed to keep the food and supply shelves stocked at the Cupboard.

“We are so grateful for partners like this, who can help us keep everyone fed in the community and make sure that Kennett Square remains a place where no one goes hungry,” she said.

David said that while he acknowledges that the new store has area competition, it will not affect the company’s approach to business. 

“We want to stay true to the Grocery Outlet philosophy, which is ‘Same products and same brand goods at a lesser amount’ and secondly, to provide good customer service,” he said. “We’re locally owned. We will be here every day, and if I need to stand by the front door and greet each and every person who comes to see us, then I will certainly do that.”

To learn more about Grocery Outlet, visit www.groceryoutlet.com.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email [email protected].