POCATELLO — One local resident recently participated in a two-minute shopping spree at Grocery Outlet Bargain Market as it celebrated one year in business and service to the community.
Josh Pence, who operates Grocery Outlet with his wife Shannon, said the one year anniversary happened on April 6. To celebrate, the business held a raffle. The winner was able to go on a shopping spree.
"We were giving away a two minute shopping spree for up to $500," Pence said.
The winner was a Pocatello woman named Jena Lords. She and her husband visited the store on the morning of April 19 for their spree.
"She walked out with $491 worth of grocery items," he said.
Jena Lords said she works at Idaho State University. She knows Josh and Shannon through the All About The Animals Coalition, or AAA Coalition, a local nonprofit organization that aims to address the pet overpopulation problem in the community by providing affordable and accessible spay and neuter services to pet owners. Lords is the event fundraiser for AAA Coalition.
"Grocery Outlet has donated to our events," she said. "They're good people."
Lords said the day before her shopping spree she went to Grocery Outlet to make a plan of what items she wanted to get. She said she planned to go through the meat and cheese section, condiments and laundry and pet items.
"I was able to stock up on laundry detergent, paper towels and kitty litter," she said.
Lords said she does not normally shop at Grocery Outlet, but she thinks she will start shopping there more often.
"I definitely will shop there more just seeing how much I saved with the shopping spree," she said.
Pence said it feels good to be able to reach their first anniversary. He said they still have many of the staff members that were there when they first opened. They still have more and more customers coming to see what they have.
"We've had a lot of community support," he said. "We're looking forward to our next year."
Pence said during their first year, they have been able to engage in community outreach. He said the community outreach has been something they have enjoyed doing and they look forward to continuing to support the community in their second year.
"Next month we're going to be running a program to support the Boys and Girls Club of the Portneuf Valley," he said. "We're super excited to help them out."
Pence said his favorite part about operating Grocery Outlet is the opportunities they get to help customers find the things they need.
"We have a lot of people who have sought us out," he said. "We do our best to always help everyone out."
Pence said the he also loves that he is able to interact with the customers. He said he and his wife are there for most of the week and they usually get to talk to customers.
"We have our office work, but we're usually out on the floor," he said. "It's nice to talk to customers and help them find what they need."
Shannon said her favorite part about operating Grocery Outlet is the community outreach that they do. She said she likes doing what she can to support the community.
"What I like is the ability to help where help is needed," she said.
Pence said everyone at Grocery Outlet looks forward to their next year and that they love being part of the community.
"We're excited to see what 2024 brings," he said.
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