Charley Family Shop'n Save named among top 25 independent U.S. grocers

Shoppers at the three Charley Family Shop ’n Save stores in Greensburg and Murrysville don’t have to look far to find owner Tom Charley.

If he or his brother, Mike, are not walking around a store chatting with customers, chances are good that Charley has a recent video posted to the group’s Facebook page, whether it’s spotlighting accomplishments by store employees, announcing major events or even discussing challenging situations such the one that Charley and other grocery store owners faced during the pandemic.

“We communicate with shoppers in a way that would be impossible for a large company to match,” Charley said. “We’ve had Facebook Live videos talking about specific challenges in the supply chain, categories we are having a hard time stocking and what the future looks like for those items.”

That attention to detail and customer care is part of what earned Charley’s stores a spot on Progressive Grocer’s list of the top 25 independent grocers in the U.S.

Officials at the trade publication, which has covered the retail food industry since 1922, also took notice of the company’s dedication to customers around the holidays — on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, when the stores are closed, the Charley family sets up a display with free food available throughout the day.

“We set up about 20 key items outside for customers to take as needed,” Charley said. “There’s no requirement to pay a penny for anything you take. We have a sign next to the products that describes a nonprofit we’re supporting, with a QR code customers can scan to donate directly to nonprofits we think are great assets for our region.”

While stores on the Progressive Grocer list may not be able to compete with larger chains in terms of scale, many have made themselves indispensable members of their respective communities, and this approach often helps to boost their bottom lines.

In Charley’s case, that means largely being the face of the organization.

“Our videos aren’t produced by a marketing firm. They’re very grassroots, and it shows,” he said. “There’s no filter between my mouth and what’s going on in the industry. It fosters trust between our company and the community.”

Below, watch as Charley livestreams a charity shopping spree at the store on Feb. 22, 2023.