At The Grocery Outlet, we often get asked how we manage to offer such amazing deals on high-quality products. The answer lies in our unique approach to sourcing inventory. We work directly with top Canadian and U.S. manufacturers and distributors who ocassionaly run into inventory issues. The majority of our products come from situations where manufacturers overproduce. For instance, they might predict selling 100,000 units of a product but only sell 75,000. The leftover units are then offered to us at a deep discount, and we pass those savings directly on to you.

It’s not just overproduction that helps us provide unbeatable prices. We also work with manufacturers to acquire products that may be deemed “imperfect” due to minor cosmetic flaws. These imperfections don’t affect the quality or taste of the product — it’s simply that they don’t look quite as perfect as originally intended. For example, a bakery may have produced cakes that were intended to serve 8, but they ended up being cut into 10 pieces. Though the cakes are still perfectly delicious, they’re not exactly what the restaurant wanted, so they’re offered to us at a lower price.

Another way we source products is through packaging changes. Manufacturers might decide to redesign their packaging or run a special promotion that no longer applies. These products are still perfectly fresh, but the packaging is outdated. Rather than throw them out, the manufacturer calls us to help clear out their inventory, and we’re able to offer these products at a significant discount.

While most of our stock comes from these unique buying opportunities, we also carry some products that are more standard but still well-priced. These items may not come with the same incredible savings, but we believe it’s important to keep them in stock for your convenience. Whether it's a “one-time find” or a familiar brand at a reduced price, we make sure you always have access to great deals.