Say hello to Shannon Browning, the operator of the Grocery Outlet located in Albany, Oregon. Shannon has been working with the company since she was 15! She began her career as a cashier in the Chehalis store and loved the company so much she never left. Shannon worked her way up through management in the store and soon found herself training to become an operator. After completing training, she took over the store in Woodburn and more recently moved to the Albany Grocery Outlet in 2009.

Shannon loves being an operator because it gives her the freedom of running her own business while allowing her and her employees to be creative. The team is very dedicated to the community and gives back anyway they can. The Albany store currently donates to the YMCA, food banks, churches, and many of the smaller organizations that come in asking for help. The crew is devoted to making a difference in the community and they are happy to help everybody.

Shannon has made it a tradition to do some kind of store giveaway every month. In the month of December 2008, she decided the store was going to give away a $200 shopping spree. When the day came to choose the winner everyone was full of excitement. The winner was announced and the woman came up to claim her prize. Upon accepting the shopping spree, the lady told Shannon that because of what the store has done for everyone in the community, she wanted to give the shopping spree to a local food bank. Shannon was so touched by the care in the woman’s heart she decided she would match the $200 shopping spree with another $200 shopping spree for the same food bank. At the end of the spree, the food bank representative had filled six carts to the brim. After checking out all of the items, Shannon met up with the woman who gave away her spree and asked the lady if she could help her push her cart out to the food bank’s car. The woman said, “No thank you. But I would like you to help him,” pointing to the representative from the food bank. Shannon gladly helped the man. Moments such as these make Shannon proud to be a Grocery Outlet operator. Seeing the love and care the woman had for an organization that provides such a special service makes Shannon so happy to be part of her community.

Shannon’s brother works in her store as a manager. Alongside him and her fabulous team of employees, Shannon hopes to be serving the community of Albany for many years to come. To everyone who has not come in to meet Shannon and see the store, she would like to say, “Come in and check us out! You will be able to see what you’re missing and when you do, you will never go back to other grocery stores!”