Jeff Brierley: The Grocer with a Heart for the CommunityJeff Brierley: The Grocer with a Heart for the Community Jeff Brierley, owner of Brierley’s Your Independent Grocer, has always been passionate about making a difference in his neighborhood. From coaching basketball to delivering holiday meals, Jeff has a deep connection to the people he serves. Upon becoming a franchisee, Jeff’s commitment to his community grew stronger. “This is my space now,” he says, “and it’s so much more fun.” When a study revealed over 600 households in Riverside South living in poverty, Jeff saw an opportunity to act. Food banks in the area were overwhelmed, and Jeff believed grocers had a crucial role to play. “We have a privilege to help people,” he says. “We can make a real impact.” Jeff offered his store as a location for The Community Table, a volunteer-run food bank. He designed the space carefully to provide a discreet and welcoming environment for those in need. While Jeff is proud of this initiative, he keeps it discreet in the store. “We want people to feel comfortable,” he explains. Customers who need assistance are guided by PC Express to pick up their items privately. Jeff’s commitment to his community extends beyond The Community Table. He contributes to other local charities and is always looking for ways to help. “If there’s an opportunity to help, I want to do it,” he says. “We have the resources to make a difference, and that’s what we should do.” Jeff Brierley’s story is a testament to the power of individuals to create meaningful change in their communities. By leveraging his position as a grocer, he has found a unique and impactful way to support those who need it most.
Jeff Brierley always knew he wanted to make a difference in the local community, from coaching basketball teams across the street from his store to delivering baskets of food with his family to people in need during the holidays.
With a long-term goal of becoming a franchisee, he accepted the role of store owner for what is now known as Brierley’s Your Independent Grocer® (YIG) in 2023 and felt more connected to the store than ever before. “Knowing that this is now ‘my space’ has made this fun on a whole other level,” says Jeff. “Everyone is nice, the customers are amazing, and I’ve built such meaningful relationships. It really feels like home.”
A time of need created an opportunity for Brierley’s to directly support their local community; after a demographic study was conducted, it was found that there were over 600 households living below the poverty line in Riverside South. Food banks across the city were overwhelmed with families in need of food and many other resources, which in some cases has doubled or tripled since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
“I believe that as food operators we have a huge opportunity (almost a privilege) to help people,” says Jeff. “Grocers have the natural ability to give back more than the average person and can make such an impact.”
Last year, Jeff was invited to a Riverside South councillor community partner meeting and spoke about his relationship with the Ottawa Food Bank, a charity he has been involved with for years. After hearing about the need for food and space to house another local food bank, it was a no-brainer. Jeff immediately offered his store to host The Community Table, a 100% volunteer-run food bank in Riverside South.
Jeff cleaned out what was previously a dietician’s office and worked with an engineer to design the space effectively and efficiently. The Community Table Food Pantry officially opened its doors at Brierley’s YIG on May 6, 2024.
While proud of this initiative, it is not something that is widely publicized in the store. There is no signage directing customers to the food bank and everything is located inside the space, to make those in need feel like any other customer. When customers enter, they are escorted by PC Express to pick up their items.
“If there’s an opportunity to help, I want to give back,” Jeff says. “The way we can impact our community the most is with food. People need it and we have the resources to provide it, so that’s exactly what I want to do.”
