By Ted Escobar, Daily Sun News

Known for its low prices for common grocery items, Grocery Outlet will open a new store in Sunnyside. The store will open at 2600 Yakima Valley Highway, in the former Kmart building.

Grocery Outlet spokeswoman Kelly O’Rourke said construction will start soon.

“Delivering thrilling deals has become our mission,” O’Rouke said. “It’s led us to become the nation’s largest extreme value grocery retailer.”

Brand-name groceries and farm-fresh produce discounted 40 percent to 70 percent from conventional retail prices are common at Grocery Outlet, O’Rouke said, noting these are high-quality, wholesome foods.

Grocery Outlet buyers travel the world to find the best food deals available, O’Rourke said.

The company has developed long-term relationships with thousands of producers and manufacturers through the years.

Grocery Outlet buyers are experts at buying opportunistically; that is, outside the normal retail channel, such as packaging changes, product overruns and surplus inventories, to bring the best bargains back to consumers, O’Rourke said.

The third generation of the Read family is running the business now, with more than 280 independently-operated stores in California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington. 

The nearest stores are in Kennewick, Walla Walla and Yakima. A Pasco location is planned for the corner of Road 68 and Sandifur Parkway.

The California-based company has been around since 1946.

Founder Jim Read started by selling military surplus for big discounts, and Grocery Outlet has been doing the same ever since.