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Grocery Outlet files IPO registration

Extreme-value retailer looks to fuel rapid growth

Russell Redman

March 27, 2019

2 Min Read
Supermarket News logo in a gray background | Supermarket News

Grocery Outlet Bargain Market is poised to make an initial public offering.

The extreme-value grocery chain said late Tuesday that it has filed a Form S-1 draft registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed IPO of common stock. The offering, to be made as Grocery Outlet Holding Corp., is slated to begin after the SEC review process, depending on market conditions and other factors.

At this time, the share price range and number of shares to be offered haven’t yet been determined, the company said.

Emeryville, Calif.-based Grocery Outlet has more than 300 stores in California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington. The chain touts big discounts on brand-name products, offering savings of 40% to 70% versus conventional retailers, achieved through a sourcing model of purchasing surplus inventory and product overruns directly from thousands of supplier partners.

Grocery Outlet stores are run by independent owner-operators from the communities they serve and carry a full range of grocery products, including fresh produce, meat and deli; dairy; beer and wine; natural and organic items; health and beauty aids; and seasonal items. The retailer describes itself as the nation’s largest and fastest-growing extreme-value grocery retailer, drawing over 1.5 million shoppers to its stores weekly.

Related:Grocery Outlet CEO deems SoCal 'huge growth market'

Starting this year, Grocery Outlet transitioned its leadership from a dual-CEO structure. The company’s board of directors in late December named Eric Lindberg as CEO and MacGregor Read as vice chairman effective Jan. 1. They had served as co-CEOs since 2006. Both are third-generation members of the family of Jim Read, who founded the retailer in 1946.

In the fall of 2014, Grocery Outlet’s senior management partnered with affiliates of private equity firm Hellman & Friedman LLC to acquire the chain from principal owner Berkshire Partners LLC. At the time, the chain had approximately 210 stores in six states.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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