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Some of these items are such a bargain        are finding good deals left and right, owners can still
                                                                                                                                            because they’re “closeouts,” as Amy           refuse the products based on the needs of the store.
                                                                                                                                            previously mentioned. Meaning, a company is
                                                                                                                                            discontinuing a product for some reason and   “We as the owners decide what we want to bring
                                                                                                                                            needs to sell it all, often at a huge discount.  in the building,” Amy explained. “So, you can be
                                                                                                                                                                                          unique to your location; certain stores sell more or
                                                                                                                                            “If you fall in love with a product, you      less of certain things. There are stores that struggle
                                                                                                                                            should go back and buy some more,             to sell floral, whereas my customers love it! So,
                                                                                                                                            and do it quickly! Just in case,” Amy         it all depends on your location, getting to know
                                                                                                                                            advised. “If it’s something that we don’t     your customers and what they want and need.”
                                                                                                                                            carry all the time, we recommend that
                                                                                                                                            you come back and buy as much as you          What that means is that when you shop at
                                                                                                                                            can because we won’t have it again.”          Grocery Outlet in Vallejo, the products you
                                                                                                                                                                                          see on the shelves are placed there specifically
                                                                                                                                            Amy suggests that you shop at Grocery Outlet   with the greater Vallejo community in mind.
                                                                                                                                            first, see if it has all that you need, then go
                                                                                                                                            elsewhere to fill in any gaps. However, when   In 2016, Amy and Scott moved here from New
                                                                                                                                            it comes to the basics (e.g. eggs, bread,     Jersey to take over Grocery Outlet in Vallejo,
                                                                                                                                            produce, even fresh meat and fresh seafood)—  and they’ve been moved even more by our local
                                                                                                                                            you can trust they’ll have all the essentials in   community. “I’ve lived in a lot of places and
                                                                                                                                            stock, which are delivered almost every day.  Vallejo is, by far, filled with some of the most
                                                                                                                                                                                          amazing people I’ve ever met,” Amy said. “We’ve
        An Exciting                                                                                                                   teenagers) from the Grocery Outlet, and I never     a joy to come to work with them every day.”
                                                                                                                                      “I feed my entire family of five (with three
                                                                                                                                                                                          got some incredible people working for us and it’s
                                                                           Way
                                                                                                                                      have to go anyplace else,” Amy exclaimed. “The
                                                                                                                                                                                          Via Grocery Outlet they support the community
                                                                                                                                      quality is outstanding; our produce is delivered
                                                                                                                                                                                          every chance they get. They offer scholarships,
                                                                                                                                      fresh, 6 days a week, from distributors all
        to Grocery                                                                                                                    over California, Oregon, and Washington.”           support schools, the Vallejo Admirals, and much
                                                                                                                                                                                          more. They collected around $25,000 to help
                                                                                                                                                                                          with the Paradise Fire relief, even sending two
                                                                                                                                      We asked Amy to recall an example of one of
                                                                                                                                                                                          truckloads worth of product their way. They also
                                                                                                                                      these amazing deals they’ve had in the past
        Shop!                                                                                                                         and she mentioned a time when they acquired         partner with Vallejo nonprofit Faith Food Fridays,
                                                                                                                                      goods from a company called Nature’s Gate
                                                                                                                                                                                          giving them any food that can no longer be
                                                                                                                                                                                          sold in efforts to not throw anything away.
                                                                                                                                      that specialized in items like organic body
                                                                                                                                      wash, shampoo and conditioner—similar to
                                                                                                                                      products you’d find at Whole Foods.                 “We’re also known for #GORAK: Grocery Outlet
                                                                                                                                                                                          Random Act of Kindness,” Amy revealed.
        Oh, the deals you’ll find at Vallejo’s Grocery Outlet                                                                         “What would sell elsewhere
                                                                                                                                      for about $12, we were selling
                                                                                                                                      for $2.99, buy one get one
        By Matt Larson                                                                                                                free,” she said. Apparently,
                                                                                                                                      the company had gone out
        People typically arrive at the grocery store knowing   “Grocery Outlet works with opportunistic buying,”                      of business and sold its entire
        what they want, where to find it, and about how        explained Amy Yacullo, who owns Grocery Outlet                         remaining inventory to Grocery
        much it will cost. Pleasant surprises are generally not   in Vallejo with her husband, Scott. “We deal                        Outlet. Amy told us “for $25, I
        something one would expect. Sometimes new products     with buying pack changes, closeouts, overstocks;                       got 16 things that would have
        arrive, but they’re often simply ignored, as shopping   then we’re able to create the value and the                           been $200 if I went to Raley’s.”
        for groceries has become a robotic, repetitive process.   savings and pass it on to the customer.”                            For opportunities like that,
        Such is not the case when walking through the          This purchasing method they’ve perfected                               customers can be spotted
        aisles of Grocery Outlet in Vallejo. You may find      results in some deeply discounted, name brand                          shopping at Grocery
        spectacular deals on amazing items available           products. The one and only downside is that                            Outlet several times per
        nowhere else, and you may even get all your            these deals don’t last forever, or even days for                       week to ensure that they
        groceries for free! More on that later…                that matter; in fact, some of these products                           don’t miss out on some of
                                                               won’t be available anywhere, ever again.                               these very timely deals.
        The difference is in the name: outlet. Akin to a retail
        outlet store—or like Marshall’s or T.J. Maxx, where you   “It’s like a treasure hunt!” Amy laughed. “New                      Every Grocery Outlet is
        can stumble upon some once-in-a-lifetime deals that    items show up every day. It’s a problem for                            different, as they’re all
        you couldn’t find anywhere else—you can look forward   me because every day I’m bringing something                            individually owned and
        to a similarly beneficial experience at Grocery Outlet.  else home. Every day it’s a new adventure!”                          operated. And while the buyers


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