Hey team! There's sadly a lot of bots in the comments on this video for some reason... don't fall for stupid scammers. Just be happy and stuff ok? Thanks for watching! ❤
Just want to add two points that were not covered here: 1. Trader Joe’s donates almost all of their unsold foods to food banks. They have a whole system for it and are considered one of the best in the country. 2. Trader Joe’s responded to consumer demand about plastic packaging and has changed a lot of their packaging to paper or reduced the amount of plastic. They’re not all the way there yet, especially when it comes to vegetables, but they have shown that they have listened to consumers and taken action. There is another video that takes a deep dive into true sustainability of Trader Joe’s. I’ll like it below once I find it.
This is interesting. Before my right foot got chopped off about a month ago, I regularly did food distribution with a church that got its food from the food bank, and I also worked with a Jewish organization that got their food from the food bank. I have *never* seen an item in that pipeline that came from Trader Joe's. Pretty much all the food comes from Food Lion, but I doubt they have quite the same yuppie cred as Trader Joe's.
Another thing to note about the store experience: the registers are highly staffed-even the whole store is highly staffed. They consistently have shorter waits for the registers than any other store I’ve been to, even shorter than many of their competitor’s self-checkout lines. It feels like they actually want to help you pay for your items and leave. At a Safeway or Fred Meyer where they rarely have more than half their registers open and lines are all over 5 minutes long even for self-checkout, its almost as if they are encouraging people to walk out of the store without paying or abandon their cart in frustration-and yet Trader Joes is cheaper than them both.
They also hide a parrot, or maybe it was a monkey... Anyway, they hide him in a different spot every day. The kids would always try to find it when ever we went there.
I worked for Trader Joes at a few different locations so I can confidently give some insight. I would say that it is not really cheap unless you buy only basic items like canned corn or if you live in a city with an insanely high cost of living (Manhattan, Philadelphia, San Fransisco, L.A.). And those stores are anything but peaceful, lol. Their packaged and premade food (what they're known for) can be quite expensive and definitely adds up if you want the convenience of not cooking from scratch. It may be store dependent, but I think they are really good about keeping food fresh, as we rotate food and check dates hourly. Also something that depends on the store is the happiness of the workers. We were not happy people at all. Most of my coworkers suffered from mental health issues and the job could be really draining. However, people who shop at Trader Joe's are ~typically~ happy and lax, so it makes it easier to interact and have genuine human connection. Management really makes or breaks a store dynamic. I can believe that it is horrible for the planet because pretty much everything outside of some fresh veg is wrapped in single use, tiny portion plastic.
Just want to state that I am not anti- TraderJoe's; they have their ups and downs and on a whole they do good things. As people mentioned below, we used to donate an incredibly large percentage of food to hyper local community support groups. I am also glad that stores are starting to unionize; the people who work there really do many jobs to keep it running and they deserve all of the benefits of their labor.
Working at TJs saved my friend's life. After years of being a community college adjunct faculty with no health insurance, she gave up the classroom and got a job at TJs. A year later, she was diagnosed with cancer. She would have died if she continued teaching because she stopped getting medical check ups. TJs covered her check ups and treatments. On the flipside, has anyone noticed the quality of Joe Joe's going down? Their quality of chocolatety goodness is not the same pre-lockdown. Cue me weeping. Also, bring back the lemon ice cream 🍦 😋 !
the trader joes near me is in an old movie theatre, and so the entire store is themed like a vintage theatre! theres fake movie posters for products and the theme just makes it so much more fun to shop at
Theo Albrecht didn't own a couple of ALDI supermarkets. He is one of the founders and has been owner of ALDI NORD until his death. ALDI sells some products in Germany under the name Trader Joes. It's not like there is no connection at all although they're of course two separate companies now owned by his family.
A little addition to Dave, but the Aldi name was a family grocery store, but went to two brothers that parted ways but both still use the Aldi name. All Aldi stores in the US are owned by the company Aldi Süd while TJ's is owned by Aldi Nord. They both operate internationally under the name Aldi in different regions.
@@drewe2331 I heard/read somewhere that the bros split the empire because one of the brothers wanted to sell tobacco products and the other didn't? I know here in Australia Aldi - as in Aldi Sud doesn't sell cigarettes or tobacco products..
Well technically the Aldi Founder war their father, they split then the business into Aldi Nord and Süd, which it’s a division between North and South Germany (i am not sure about the eastern part also these has some Iberian Conquistadores Vibes.) Anyways, looking at Trader Joes it’s definitely has some similarities with Aldi economical wise. A lot of grocery stores in Europe do have a similar approach with cheaper off-brand products, it’s not a big secret here that it’s the same manufacturer who produces branded goods. … Minus the Tiki Vibe, though.
The Trader Joe's vegetable section may be covered in plastic but it's SO accessible. It's the best place, at least in my area, to get the kind of pre-prepared vegetables (at an affordable price) that make it possible for me actually cook. As a disabled person, Trader Joes makes cooking so much more available to me because I can start with ingredients like pre-cut veggies, ready-to-cook or pre-cooked proteins, and excellent pre-made sauces. The lower number of total options and smaller footprint of the store also makes it easier for me to get in and out quickly, which is easier on my body as well.
I live in NYC. I am from Italy. I mostly shop at TJ. They import good, solid products and they sell them at a fair price. A lot of decent food is so overpriced in the US, while junk food is cheap. Their stuff from Italy is probably rebranded from quality mainstream producers. Anyway, I buy stuff from all over the world. The customer service is great. A lot of products that are imported have fewer fillers, artificial flavors, and sugar than comparable foods from other supermarkets. There is Aldi as well in NYC, not as much, but TJ has a better selection and overall experience.
I’m from Massachusetts, but NYC has been my home since the 1980s. I agree with you about Trader Joe’s for the most part, although most of their fresh produce (as the video notes) and dairy offerings are markedly inferior to other purveyors. There are a few Lidl stores (owned by Aldi Sud IIRC) in and around NYC including one on West 118th Street. Given your favorable impression of Trader Joe’s, I reckon you’ll like Lidl as well. (The local Lidls are rebranded Best Markets and some are reportedly lousy.)
@@paulinbrooklyn thanks. The produce I get at Trader Joe’s are pre washed Brussels sprouts, cruciferous mix, some jalapeños. I have been to Lidl in Europe, in the 1990s. I have been to Aldi here in the USA. I love their Fair Trade Organic single origin whole bean coffee from Peru. It costs $6.19 a pack and it is better than some fancy Partners coffee that costs $16/20 for a similar 340g/12oz bag. Coffee is so overpriced in the USA, like wine, pasta, beer, rice compared to Italy and Europe in general. Specialty coffee in the USA costs around $48/60 per kg, in London UK it would be $32 per kg. Same for Lavazza blends, in the USA $24/kg vs $10/15 per kg in Europe. Anyway Trader Joe’s balances the high cost of cooking at home in the USA in general.
My number one reason for going to Trader Joe's is their special diet/allergen free products. I'm gluten free (medically) and vegan. It's hard enough for me to go to a store and find products that are gluten free, or vegan, never mind BOTH. Trader Joe's makes good gluten free vegan products and at a good price! I know folks are saying the cost of their groceries can add up when you get all of the special premade frozen and dessert goodies here, but for gluten free and vegan food, it is SO less expensive at TJ's than in any other grocery store! And TJ's generally makes good quality GF vegan foods, whereas there are still a lot of unsatisfying GF/vegan foods sold in big grocery stores that taste like nothing. And while their produce is never the most fresh, I do appreciate that for a lot of their conventional produce, they have an organic counterpart. I'm sure the Whole Foods near me has plenty of organic produce, but that is frankly too expensive for me and the other grocery stores nearby have only a few items that are organic, if any.
So right! I have three kids, one is gluten-free, dairy-free, another is GF, DF, and corn-free and my oldest became a vegan about three years ago. We don't live near a Trader Joe's but when we visit family out of state we always make sure we leave room in the car to stock up at TJ's before we go home. More than once a kid rode 5 hours home with a bag full of bread for the freezer to get us through to the next visit. We were having to buy things at the health food store and would easily spend double what the same things cost at TJ's. Shopping can be hard when you can't eat what "everyone" else is eating, glad you found somewhere to get what you need at an affordable price. :)
The crux of TJs is that they don't stock multiple brands of each product. That keeps their store compact and quick to navigate. At Supermarkets you have to scan the 2 dozen spaghetti sauces for which one is currently on sale. Then you have to read the label of that product, get infuriated that it's less food and most corn syrup, and go home wondering if you had enough reserve sauce to make it until the next shop. With TJs, you read the label one time, decide whether it's nutritious or junk and then purchase it every time if you decide it's a good product. The quality is high, so most products barely require that ingredient check. Lately, TJs has been eliminating some staples like soy milk, soy ice cream, Tofurky italian vegan sausages, and all-fruit preserves. Bad TJs. We have never shopped there solely, but for decades, they've provided us with the plurality of our food.
Yes; it’s not unusual for people from other countries 🗺 to come in to our stores and buy our reusable $.99 bags in bulk as gifts 🎁 . They really are the best bags despite being inexpensive 😊!
Canada as well. When I'm in Canada working or visiting family, I use my Tj bags as purse alternatives, and people constantly stop me to compliment me on them and even ask to buy them. It's a weird novelty coveting thing
interesting to hear TJ's described as "not chaotic or overwhelming"; i live in philly and the center city TJ's is literally always packed, the checkout line reaches around the store and blocks the outside aisles, and its one of the most chaotic shopping experiences i've ever had. i've never been to any other TJ's so maybe this one is just particularly small, in a very high-population, high-income area.
Would love to see a video on Aldi. I saw them at the top of the sustainability list by a good margin. I love going there for grocery basics. While the environment isn't as fun and friendly as Trader Joe's I still find it a much better experience than a bigger store
I agree, I kept going back to try to read that list. I'm curious about Aldi because they have lots of stuff in single use plastic and they sell a decent amount of junky stuff (non foods). Some of their non foods are good quality, but not all. I'd also be interested in Lidl. Both are all over Europe, so you'd probably have lots of viewers interested.
Liked the video but I do think there was a part missing in the identity that Trader Joe’s has. Trader Joe’s seems to put their stores in areas where income is on the higher end. Aldi/Trader Joe’s being “cousins” plays into this. Aldis are in areas where the income may be middle to low with an emphasis on low prices instead of uniqueness of products. Trader Joe’s is very much an Aldi but for people with some semblance of wealth/high income. It would be interesting to see if others who watch this channel feel the same way.
You're probably not wrong! There's not a conclusive source that proves this but it would make sense given that they target "well traveled" consumers which implies money. Good point!
YES! I live in the poorer part of town and there is an Aldis right up the street. If I want to shop at Trader Joe's, then I have to drive 30 minutes to the 'nice' part of town where all the people live in big brick houses with swimming pools. I don't like to drive across town, so I don't go there very often. Aldis is so basic, with so many 'knock off' products (read: not as good as), same small grocery feel, but their produce is kind of... spoiled. And I hate the coin slot carts and boxing my own groceries up. Good thing there are still other choices in grocery stores, because I won't shop at either TJ's or Aldis.
There’s only on TJ in my entire city and it’s located in a nice suburb. Meanwhile I can think of at least 5 different Aldi all sitting in crappy neighborhoods. I can see a correlation here 🤔🤔🤔🤔
My area has both TJ's & Aldis. Both are located in universal areas. I would say getting to either one is even for both upper or lower income. I guess it just depends on where you live.
@@FutureProofTV “well traveled” sounds like an assumption of a monolithic community. In the Bay Area we have MANY Trader Joe’s locations and bc of cost of living, TJ’s is rather affordable compared to other grocery stores like Safeway. While I agree TJ’s tends to set up shop in areas that are not low-income, the locations local to me are very accessible to low-income ppl in very nearby neighborhoods that are considered low-income via public transportation or even just a short walk. Anyway, I’ve never seen TJ’s really catering to “well traveled individuals” (I think of maybe Cost Plus World Market for that), but for ppl who have diverse tastes bc the areas the stores are located are diverse in itself.
Several of the TJ "exclusive" products are sold at Aldi under a different label. The bagel seasoning is my favorite ... Aldi's is exactly the same, only it costs less. Signed, Trader Joe's fan since the 1980s who now does not live close to one, but has an Aldi within walking distance.
It’s wild to me that the “store brand products are made by national brands who want to keep that market share” thing isn’t widely known. Like, one of the things people say about why Kirkland Vodka from Costco is so good is that it’s made by Gray Goose. It’s kind of an open secret. Speaking of Costco, if you look at the Kirkland Brand packages of par-cooked bacon, it says (or used to say) “Hormel” right there on the package bold as brass. Everybody always talks about how, when buying a brand name product, you’re paying a premium for the name itself (and advertising, etc) so I’m kind of confused when people who study business suggest the idea that a store brand item purchased at closer to cost from a national brand and sold at a lower cost under the “No name” store brand is “crazy”. Like, do we understand how this works or not? How is the store brand going to offer the product at a lower price point if not through the economy of scale that a national brand can take advantage of? I also do like that Trader Joe’s (and Aldi) offer “fewer SKUs) because a large percentage of the thousands more SKUs at like Walmart are duplicate items. Trader Joe’s has one kind of cat litter. Walmart has an entire side of an isle with like 60 different kinds of cat litter from 6 different brands with like 10 different product lines each.
We've got a vegetable canning / freezing plant in town. One minute the packaging says "Del Monte" and the next minute, they say "Great Value". And it's the exact same vegetables. 😂
I think the other thing about Trader Joes is that each store tends to have products that you can't find at other locations. A trip to Trader Joes, much like Costco is like a treasure hunt. "What will they have this week/month"
Truck driver here. Company I used to drive for would have me pick up at a brewery that not only provided their own brand beer, but they also brewed beer for Trader Joe's! (says it in super fine print on the packaging who brews it) but this tripped me out every time I'd pick up a load there and take it to TJ's warehouse in SoCal. One of those "not-so-secret-secrets" I guess.
Traders is where I do most of my shopping. They’re cheap, pleasant to walk around, Don’t shove 50 types of each product in your face, incredibly good staff, quick checkouts, kid friendly (my toddler does the shopping with the mini cart) (occasionally gets stickers as well) and relatively well priced (with organic products such as milk, eggs) I’ve def noticed the prices going up but it’s still better than shopping at a Publix or mass chain for small batch products.
I used to work in accounting at Trader Joe's and having becoming very familiar with the vendors. I can say that the suppliers are basically the same as the big box stores such as vegetables, cheeses and dips. But there are unique import things as well like the candies and wine.
Just a note, there used to be a sort of Trader Joe’s on 4th Avenue in Vancouver called Pirate Joe’s. The owner hired people to purchase from TJ’s in the states and he would resell at a markup. Trader Joe’s did sue the owner and he changed the name of the store to Irate Joe’s. I believe he won the first suit but when Trader Joe’s sued again he was forced to close the store.
Small clarification: He was only forced to close due to the high court/legal fees. Legally he wasn't doing anything wrong. He was doing everything by the book. :)
Fun fact: Here in Germany you can see the unique manifacturing plant ID like "DE 12345" on a product, so you can check that yes, in fact, the cheap product next to the named product is from the same factory - sometimes the cheap option uses a different amount of ingredients tho. I've been to a Trader Joes-like store in Australia for the first time and boy is it nice to shop there :)
Resembles European (actually, German) stores, which makes sense given the Aldi connection. As for prices, look up private labels like Ja! in the German market. Same concept. Cheaper products compared to branded alternatives, nearly the same set of ingredients (and most likely suppliers too). Nice video :)
Only reason I go to Trader Joe's is because their products and produces are so cheap compared to other grocery stores. I don't like the whole vibe and lack of produce options though. I also live in NYC and he's wrong about the store being not chaotic. It is the most chaotic grocery store I've been to in the city because of its small square footage
Trader Joe cheap? What neighborhood do you reside in NYC From my experience TJ is more expensive especially when you look at the ounces. You're getting much less when compared to a supermarket, which is why only certain items I get at TJ and the majority from my local supermarket. I could never do my full grocery shopping at Trader Joe.
I used to be an avid TJs shopper starting in the late 90s but "fell out of "love" with them" mid 2019. Prices kept going WAY up on stock things like bread, cheeses, fruits and they'd carry a really excellent product like eggless/sugar free mayonnaise for years and suddenly discontinue it or offer only an organic version at triple the price. Just like ambiance of a restaurant can be nice but does you no good if you can't afford the food there.
Trader Joe's is designed for busy people who don't cook. It feels like 70% of the items are $4.50 heat-and-serve meals. I do love a lot of their items and I go there weekly especially when I don't feel like cooking from scratch. I live in Manhattan so 'roaming the aisles' is a hilarious concept. Trader Joe's is so crowded that the checkout line extends through the ENTIRE STORE. For Manhattan it's considered very cheap.
Interesting because I cook everything from scratch and still get many products from traders. Choco chips, coconut sugar, fresh produce, milk eggs and bread are all items which traders have better quality (ingredients) options for very good pricing making it a staple in our house
There was a guy operating a bootleg TJ's resale "shop" in Vancouver called Pirate Joe's. They paid people to bring back popular TJ's products from Bellingham, marked them up, and sold them to Vancouverites. I don't know how long they were around, and I never went shopping there myself, but I love that there's such a cult following for TJ's in Canada that we would go to the length of bootlegging their goods. 😂
A lot of us who love Trader Joe's are very much aware of TJ's problems. So, I go for the things that I can't get elsewhere - especially the seasonal stuff, and to my local grocery for everything else. Their items are all very tasty - I wouldn't go back if they weren't - and when I really need something for a quick meal, I can always find something which appeals. I'd be very sad if TJ's disappeared from our area, but we have a really good local chain that has stepped up since they moved in, and while they are more expensive, I buy most of my staples there, so I think I'd survive 😉.
SKU isn't the number of items they have in store, it's the number of unique items they have in store. like 10 jars of 2 different sizes of the same brand of peanut butter would be 10 stock and 2 SKUs
The amount of plastic in the produce section is why I’ve never chosen to shop at trader Joe’s. Especially while living in LA, where any other grocery store you go to has a huge plastic free produce section (which is 80% of my shop anyway), it feels like they’re stuck in the 80s or something. Hopefully they’ll change that soon 🤞
I literally lives off Trader Joe’s in college because they were right off the bus stop, and their frozen section had veggies and chicken with pre-made sauce packets, so I would dump all the stuff into one big pot and mix it all together. Knowing that they’re not flawless doesn’t detract from my good memories, and I give kudos to them for not being terrible like Walmart, but I do agree with Levi that hopefully they can do better in the future
For me, the fruit and veggies are more flavorful and last longer than all the big stores around me. I thought for a long time that apples just went mealy after a week no matter where you get them so I was floored when they last 4 before I ate them all. An onion from tjs makes me cry while GE or kroger or walmart seem more like water chestnuts to my eyes and mouth. Thanks for the video, I finally know why I like tjs so much
I have never been to the US yet, but I know Trader Joe's as a brand name, and I know it from Aldi, because here in Germany they sell "typical" US products under the Trader Joe's branding at Aldi. The TJ's peanut butter that they sell, I first ate it as a child somewhere in the 90's, and that's where my love for peanut butter started.
So basically, it‘s Aldi‘s market strategy wrapped in the original Trader Joe‘s branding. Here in Germany, it is well known that the branded stuff is produced by the same manufacturers that also do the store-brands. Hence why not many Germans fall for the double priced stuff
We love you, too. From day one, TJ's emphasizes the "customer experience." They have a Pyramid illustration in back, with the customer being represented on the top.
I personally really do not enjoy shopping at TJs because of it being so small and so busy. I feel rushed in each aisle because there’s usually a single file line of people behind me. They do make this bomb ass cookie butter spread that I couldn’t live without so I make sure to stock up every time
Probably partly due to cost of living here in the US. We don’t have public universal healthcare. We have to pay for our own health insurance out of our employment income, and that insurance is provided by private companies who are out to make money. My understanding is you simply just pay higher taxes that help fund healthcare, so it probably equals out by comparison.
I’ve been shopping Trader Joe’s for most groceries for about 20 years and my college age son has worked there now for over a year while taking classes. It’s true for employees that the benefit structure has changed a bit because healthcare costs skyrocket every year and the company modified benefits, (emphazing HMOs, and raising the number of work hours needed to qualify to somewhere in between part and full time), rather than cutting them. The safety issues aren’t major but are present, mostly related to the small size of the stores. (The product unloading and stocking areas are smaller, and really busy). Their interview process is designed to screen for extroverts. The employees actually explain to people that some of Trader Joe products are made by name brand manufacturers and sold for less as Trader Joe’s brand. It’s a plus, especially with the personal “cosmetic” products. The specialty products are a draw but you can get high quality family staples there for half the price-like bread,milk, eggs, apples, canned beans, pasta and olive oil. Also, pre packaged lunches like salads, pita sandwich rolls run 4-7 dollars vs. 10-15.
I couldn’t help but notice that my state’s pride and joy HEB was just one spot above TJs on sustainability. That is surprising to me because they tout their “local farmers, Texas only” products all the time. And everyone here is OBSESSED with them. I’m intrigued now about why they scored so low.
Trader Joe’s is only really good for their unique snacks and frozen foods. Like that stand up comic once said: “I love Trader Joe’s, I also love when you go to a different grocery store to get all stuff you couldn’t get there”
I have celiac and a corn allergy and one of the things that I really appreciate about Trader Joe's is that they've continued to stock a lot of food that I can actually eat. Because g-free was such a huge fad for a while, a lot of box stores and grocery stores have dropped their g-free products or sell them at astronomical prices. I can get a loaf of rice bread at trader joe's for $4.50 when a similar product like Udi's costs $9 a loaf at albertson's. And I can get brown rice penne at TJ's for $3 a bag compared to $4.70 for a box of g-free spaghetti at WalMart. Still a bummer that they do cycle out a lot of stuff. TJ's had boxed mac and cheese that I could eat for $2 a package and stopped carrying it last year, so i'm stuck getting annie's for $3-5 a box. Generally what this means is that I do a lot of my grocery shopping for produce at discount markets and for meat and dairy at Aldi, but I end up going to TJ's for celiac-safe food.
I'm currently a stay at home mom with 2 babies and Trader Joes is easily my favorite place to go grocery shopping. The limited scale of their stores definitely makes shopping more efficient, but it also has allowed me to develop a friendly rapport with several of their staff members. I know them and they know me & my kids by name and are very sweet with them. While grocery shopping with small children still isn't "relaxing," it's refreshing to go somewhere where you're treated like you matter and not like you're inconveniencing them by being there.
levi is close to camera now!! I love how each trader Joe's seem to adapt to the environment. and the the products are top notch in health for processed foods, _most_ of the time
I work at a grocery store and I love Trader Joe’s and do most of my shopping there. I love there freezer meals because I work 15-17 hour days. Also their prices are really affordable because they use the store brand marketing method and you’re not overwhelmed by choice. Sometimes I will be walking down the aisles at work find it hard to make decide about what to buy because we have 12 feet of shelves filled with different pasta sauces vs Trader Joe’s has two shelves.
0:16 ... me, a Canadian, glancing to the right of my tiny dorm room only to see my fresh, unopened EBTB seasoning I bought just for uni: I am one of the obsessors
Having lived "next to" a Trader Joe's (literally less than 10 minutes away, by car), I can't move ANYWHERE that doesn't have access to a Trader Joe's. Their broad and unusual product selection (and occasionally their pricing) can't be beat by regular grocery stores. Now, if only we had a Whole Foods (aka "Whole Paycheck")...
Thank you for the sources document! It's refreshing to see channels providing information with references to back up their claims. Keep up the good work :)
My local Trader Joe's is right across from Costco. Every weekend, it's like Shopping extravaganza with cars driving across a tiny intersection to go between these two stores.
The Indian food at Trader Joe's is pretty on point. Both in taste and in heartburn. Like it literally hits the spot. Also necessitates Pepto Bismol... ULTRA.
Would never describe going to Trader Joe's as "not chaotic." The high demand coupled with the small floorplan has made every time I've gone to one extremely claustrophobic. I'll stick to Stop N' Shop.
That’s why I go in the morning on weekdays, and that’s with any store, not just TJs. I loathe going to places like Target on a weekend afternoon. (Overcrowded, kids running loose everywhere, the shelves are a mess and half empty, etc)Unfortunately most people can’t do this because the work 9-5 schedules…I work 12h shifts so more off time during the week
@@MilwaukeeWoman True but I don't, and no mater what time I've gone into a TJ, it's been disproportionally crowded. Regardless if that was in Union Square NYC or my current one in podunk Massachusetts.
I love Trader Joe's ❤️. I don't buy too many fruits or veggies there as they rot faster. But overall it's so fun for me to go there. It's an experience.
Sorry you got the Aldi thing wrong. Trader Joes is owned by the brother who owns Aldi Nord (north), and Aldi is owned by the brother who owns Aldi Süd(south). Please see Black Forest Family's recent video on the topic for more info.
Yeah... being confronted with 20 different brands of the same 3 flavors (but not the flavor you want) of the same item is anxiety-inducing if you haven't been in a big box grocery store in awhile. Trader Joe's has 2 or 3 flavors of the thing. Pick the one you want. Or not. Done.
Slightly tweaked non-brand name products for cheaper, no couponing to get low prices, small store and shelf space to save time and not over shop. Much better than most grocery stores.
I quit shopping at Trader Joe’s. For a couple reason. First, they only open locations in affluent areas. I’ll pass at least 10 regular grocery stores, to access this niche store. Second, as he put it “the Trader Joe’s experience” is why I quit going out of my way to shop there. It is not this nice slow pace causal shopping experience. Anywhere I stood, there were people behind me waiting to get to where I was shopping. After 45 minutes of shopping congestion, and being on the verge of a panic attack, I have never gone back. TJ’s use to be a casual store. But as they’ve become more popular, they still only put locations in six figure income areas, it’s not worth the time, the gas or the headache.
I shop at Trader Joe's because they carry items I can't get anywhere else. -They have the best tasting carrot juice -They have (or had) turkey corndogs, which I LOVE -They are the only place I've found frozen falafel balls -They have the best-tasting and most-affordable ginger cookies -They have the best prices on nuts, dried & frozen fruits, and fresh produce These are the things that keep me coming back, and it's not easy to get to a Trader Joe's from where I live. So, yeah; part of the draw is the low prices. Do I think they sell only exclusive items? Don't care. Most of what I buy is either fresh (and so not wrapped in plastic) or not available elsewhere or a better price. I never believed they sold purely in-house reciped items. Even their advertising (they DO mail out flyers) states they buy from other countries, but the items I purchase are either a better price than anywhere else or unavailable anywhere else. As for union-busting, name me a commercial business that doesn't engage in union-busting. They ALL are guilty of this. And while my custom gets won by any chain stores who work with unions instead of against them, if union-busting was a reason to stop buying from them, then you wouldn't have any outlet to go to. (And I know; until recently I worked for Kroger.) At least they don't skimp on employment by having self-checkout lanes. I refuse to self-checkout if I can avoid it, specifically because it's a loss of employment to someone.
There are alot of house branded beers in The Netherlands that are brewed by either Heineken or Bavaria(the beer not the province in Germany) But are sold for alot less.
I love trader Joe's. They opened one 10 minutes from my house and I couldn't be happier, but it is good to know that they aren't hitting the mark with sustainability.
The Trader Joe’s wine store in NYC closed suddenly several months ago. The company put out a reason being that the store was struggling, coincidentally that same store was planning to unionize the very next day after the closure.
I heard it was due to the constant looting and stealing being done because of Dems cashless bail and just returning criminals back to the streets to commit more crimes. Average crime up 31% in the last year. I wonder why this is?
I live in Michigan, and i am a Trader Joe’s stan. I follow a plant-based diet and I have been able to find alot of great meal options. Love the produce, also.
My area has two Trader Joe’s way out in the suburbs, and I just can’t go to either. The customers are so rude and abrasive, but the main reason is they redlined our urban shopping center. I know someone who is in the development corp and Trader Joe’s was really awful about their thoughts on our urban area and the neighborhood surrounding the shopping center. Meanwhile ALDIs eventually moved in across from Target and is outrageously busy and had to enlarge their store after only a few years.
I like TJ's for the frozen meals, as it helps me manage my energy, but I do sometimes notice a sort of "mandatory fun" atmosphere - it's not every time, but you can tell there are some workers who are not thrilled to be there. It think it would be better to encourage a fun atmosphere...while letting some people just be neutral
My friend was one of the sign makers at a store. She didn't like it too much and basically stayed there for the health insurance until he own business picked up.
Former employee commenting, 1) TJ also keep prices low, by purchasing in cash, no line of credit. Interest adds price on products. 2) ozone issue, well it’s the refrigerator units on the floor, I believe they where Freon based, which has been banned. Yes TJ has begun to replace them. 3) I’ve personally seen evidence of same product different labels. When a case of soy milk has 1 unit inside with the “O” brand exclusive to Whole Foods raises an eyebrow. Word of mouth Southern California TJ dairy is supplied by RockView at some point in time. 4) Although TJ in the past has treated their employees extremely well it’s changed. It’s becoming more corporate year by year by cutting benefits and raises. The people who benefited from this have retired. The golden years of working for TJ are gone.
Where i live Trader Joe hasn't really found an in because we already had our locally owned chain, Wegman's. They are pretty close the same and they have been a figure in our area for 50 years. They always get awards for employee satisfaction and their products and service is amazing. They source products from local business when possable as well.
What you describe actually sounds very similar to Aldi and other discounters in Europe. Also people here know private labels are often the same stuff as brand products, and the economy is still doing fine.
When grocery store chains started to open in Italy (several years ago), one of their biggest novelties was their "brand product lines". Due to Italy's extremely strict labelling laws, we all knew from the start that the "QUACK QUACK JUICE" sold as brand product for 1 euro was manufactured in the same exact plant as the "MY CHILD DRINKS BETTER JUICE" advertised on prime time TV and sold for 2,5 euro. We kind of looked for these products that could give us the same quality without the price. That said, it's a shame that Trader Joe's has sh*tty produce because it sounds exactly like the grocery shop I'd be wanting to shop in. Unless I need very specific things, I'm loath to shop in those huge, soulless "retail hells". I don't need 56 types of chips, I need 6 good ones.
TJ's doesn't have shifty produce. Their produce is widely raved and sought after especially fruits. The video focused on bagged lettuce offerings which isn't the bulk of their list. The video didn't show the remaining balance of fruits and veggies sold per piece or in other bags (ex. Apples and Oranges naturally would be bagged). TJ's fresh flowers and plants section wasn't mentioned either. Lastly, no mention of their housewares and home / health section which has higher quality than GNC.
I have shopped at Trader Joe's all my life and I don't know where he got "shitty produce" from. The produce is EXCELLENT, fresh and flavorful. One trip into a TJ's and reading some articles online don't make an authority on Trader Joe's.
I love working at TJs. Left my management role to come here. It's been such a great transition for me mentally. We have the best time everyday and always havenfun
The questionable source of their products doesn’t really bother me. As long as you’re buying something in a store, you’re never going to be 100% positive of a product’s origins. If you want food that is guaranteed unique and safe, farm.
As a person from Germany I have to object a bit. There are similarities between Aldi's and Trader Joe's. Both have a restricted range of products with seasonal and time restricted offers. For most of their existence, Aldi's was not advertising. They only started advertising about 3 years ago in Germany. Since then they've also tried to set themselves apart by a more exclusive store design, special muesli compositions, a wide range of organic products and the promise to only sell meat from ethical sources by 2030. So I do think that they learn from each other in some ways, even though both of them are their own brand.
My old coworker pre-pandemic used to dumpster dive at a Trader Joes here in Portland Oregon. She said they threw out tons of stuff and she got most of her food there. I've been to different Trader Joe's around Portland and the one in Vancouver Washington. It's interesting the different mix of customers you see at different stores. The one closest to me is a mix of rich people and punk rockers. You'll see a person in a Wipers shirt and a person with a Louis Vuitton bag.
Big Trader Joe’s fan here. I don’t speak for anyone else but as someone who constantly reminds them-self that there is no ethical consumption under capitalism, I just consider TJ my guilty pleasure. 😂 at the end of the day we’ve all gotta get food from some where and I’ve never dreaded going to a TJ’s. The same cannot be said for a Walmart lol I still appreciate this video tho bc it forces one to take off the rose colored lenses for places like TJ.
The Aldi Logo you used is for Aldi Süd. But Theodor Albrecht owned Aldi Nord. Saying Theodor Albrecht owned a few Aldi stores is quite funny... (was it meant to be a joke?). The Albrecht heirs actually are in top ten of the richest people in Germany.
Trader Joes is owned by the side of the family that owns Aldi Nord, Aldi Sud is the chain we know in the US. The majority of what you can get at Trader Joes you can get from Aldi for less, but with less adjectives on their labeling.
The fun thing is that we have no Trader Joes here in Germany but we have a lot of US products but the brand Trader Joes at … At Aldi what totally makes sense 😊 but just stuff like maple syrup or cranberry syrup or peanut butter and no fancy pumpkin butter or stuff. And I am so sad that we don’t have fancy pumpkin spice season things in Germany except Some pumpkin spice mixes you can buy online or pumpkin spice latte by Starbucks…
I no longer shop at TJ but the thing I liked is employees seem much happier and are willing to help customers. Other major markets the employees look like they are barely hanging on.
Trader Joe's is my favorite. It's the Whole Foods Market for the middle class (what's left of it). Really interesting foods and reasonable prices, in a fun environment.
I prefer a regular supermarket. I don't like having to stop at several different stores to get everything that I need. I'm not going to the store to have a good time, I'm going to get my errands done as fast as possible.
Well, when my son was little and I was a widow on WIC, I was able to go to TJ’s and buy a weeks worth of affordable healthy-ish groceries, including fun stuff, every week. The checkers were flirty, helpful and nice. However, I don’t shop there anymore because my tastes have “matured” and I don’t eat processed foods because of salt, etc. I also don’t like their veggies - too much packaging. Many of the items I’ve bought there over the years were not very high quality - in other words, you get what you pay for. I feel like a trader now (see what I did there?).
Meh, I'm a Canadian who moved to SF a few years ago and personally, I really miss Loblaws. They had way better products (PC Brand) and more choice. I know that Trader Joe's philosophy is different than your average grocery chain, but it also grinds my gears that I need to go to a different store to buy basics like cleaning supplies, detergent and toothpaste. 😩
They sell that stuff here in Portland Oregon as far as I am aware. I've seen a review of their detergent and it said it sucked Vs. Tide, etc. I think the toothpaste they sell is Tom's of Maine.
I like TJ’s, but I’m also serious about stretching my budget. The store is not the only place I need to shop for food - they aren’t great for fresh veggies, as you note, and sale items at other stores are often less expensive than at TJ. For me, TJ’s is just a part of my usual grocery store shopping. But it is the most fun!
I like them for the simple reason that they have good products at low prices. When I first got into them, they had whole wheat pasta for only a slight premium over regular, vs. like double-price in mainstream supermarkets, though that's changed. They're still a great source of frozen fish, cheese, and nuts. Currently I can get basically the same whole wheat pita for $1.99 at TJ or $3.99 at Safeway, do the math. Cheapest soy milk around me too, though my transportation option doesn't favor hauling liquids home from there. Their European style yogurt is like 2/3 the price of Strauss's, probably the same product. Etc.
Hey team! There's sadly a lot of bots in the comments on this video for some reason... don't fall for stupid scammers. Just be happy and stuff ok? Thanks for watching! ❤
please don't talk about shitting and food in the same video. its not funny. it is repulsive.
@@QuizmasterLaw oh boohoo
@@QuizmasterLaw pee pee poo poo
@@QuizmasterLawlol grow up
I worked at Trader Joe's. It was the most positive work environment I ever experienced.
Just want to add two points that were not covered here:
1. Trader Joe’s donates almost all of their unsold foods to food banks. They have a whole system for it and are considered one of the best in the country.
2. Trader Joe’s responded to consumer demand about plastic packaging and has changed a lot of their packaging to paper or reduced the amount of plastic. They’re not all the way there yet, especially when it comes to vegetables, but they have shown that they have listened to consumers and taken action.
There is another video that takes a deep dive into true sustainability of Trader Joe’s. I’ll like it below once I find it.
Here is the video by Our Changing Climate: ruclips.net/video/-wcO4j4FTHc/видео.html
This is interesting. Before my right foot got chopped off about a month ago, I regularly did food distribution with a church that got its food from the food bank, and I also worked with a Jewish organization that got their food from the food bank. I have *never* seen an item in that pipeline that came from Trader Joe's. Pretty much all the food comes from Food Lion, but I doubt they have quite the same yuppie cred as Trader Joe's.
Did you have your foot amputated?
woah i didnt know they donate food :0 i just like going there bc i love their logos lol
pretty much all grcery stores donate their unused items its not really special ngl
Another thing to note about the store experience: the registers are highly staffed-even the whole store is highly staffed. They consistently have shorter waits for the registers than any other store I’ve been to, even shorter than many of their competitor’s self-checkout lines. It feels like they actually want to help you pay for your items and leave. At a Safeway or Fred Meyer where they rarely have more than half their registers open and lines are all over 5 minutes long even for self-checkout, its almost as if they are encouraging people to walk out of the store without paying or abandon their cart in frustration-and yet Trader Joes is cheaper than them both.
Very well stated and so true
They also hide a parrot, or maybe it was a monkey... Anyway, they hide him in a different spot every day. The kids would always try to find it when ever we went there.
And the staff even know what they're talking about
I worked for Trader Joes at a few different locations so I can confidently give some insight. I would say that it is not really cheap unless you buy only basic items like canned corn or if you live in a city with an insanely high cost of living (Manhattan, Philadelphia, San Fransisco, L.A.). And those stores are anything but peaceful, lol. Their packaged and premade food (what they're known for) can be quite expensive and definitely adds up if you want the convenience of not cooking from scratch. It may be store dependent, but I think they are really good about keeping food fresh, as we rotate food and check dates hourly. Also something that depends on the store is the happiness of the workers. We were not happy people at all. Most of my coworkers suffered from mental health issues and the job could be really draining. However, people who shop at Trader Joe's are ~typically~ happy and lax, so it makes it easier to interact and have genuine human connection. Management really makes or breaks a store dynamic. I can believe that it is horrible for the planet because pretty much everything outside of some fresh veg is wrapped in single use, tiny portion plastic.
Thanks for this insight! TJ's is not perfect, but some people have a weird level of love for this place that keeps the hype alive I guess?
Just want to state that I am not anti- TraderJoe's; they have their ups and downs and on a whole they do good things. As people mentioned below, we used to donate an incredibly large percentage of food to hyper local community support groups. I am also glad that stores are starting to unionize; the people who work there really do many jobs to keep it running and they deserve all of the benefits of their labor.
I live in NYC and TJ's is a savior for me with their frozen food. It's like a whole ass meal I can make in my oven for $3
Working at TJs saved my friend's life. After years of being a community college adjunct faculty with no health insurance, she gave up the classroom and got a job at TJs. A year later, she was diagnosed with cancer. She would have died if she continued teaching because she stopped getting medical check ups. TJs covered her check ups and treatments.
On the flipside, has anyone noticed the quality of Joe Joe's going down? Their quality of chocolatety goodness is not the same pre-lockdown. Cue me weeping. Also, bring back the lemon ice cream 🍦 😋 !
I notice when I'm in NYC, TJoe's seems "cheap", LOL. And back at home the prices are about average.
Excuse me but if you think that "packing up kids and roaming the aisles" is "serenity", you have clearly never done it 😂
Fully acknowledging the reality that nobody on our writing team has children. 😂😬
😂 stressing me out just thinking about packing up these kids and trying to shop lmao!! Curbside pickup for the win.
@@FutureProofTV blame it on the writing team 😜
Trader Joe’s staff always give my kids stickers & are super friendly‼️💙🌟
Makes shopping with kids easier 😅
I absolutely hate when people bring their unruly kids to the grocery store.
the trader joes near me is in an old movie theatre, and so the entire store is themed like a vintage theatre! theres fake movie posters for products and the theme just makes it so much more fun to shop at
Theo Albrecht didn't own a couple of ALDI supermarkets. He is one of the founders and has been owner of ALDI NORD until his death. ALDI sells some products in Germany under the name Trader Joes. It's not like there is no connection at all although they're of course two separate companies now owned by his family.
Good clarification Dave... we'll send you our next script for proof reading if that's cool?
A little addition to Dave, but the Aldi name was a family grocery store, but went to two brothers that parted ways but both still use the Aldi name. All Aldi stores in the US are owned by the company Aldi Süd while TJ's is owned by Aldi Nord. They both operate internationally under the name Aldi in different regions.
Have a picture explaining it lol
@@drewe2331 I heard/read somewhere that the bros split the empire because one of the brothers wanted to sell tobacco products and the other didn't? I know here in Australia Aldi - as in Aldi Sud doesn't sell cigarettes or tobacco products..
Well technically the Aldi Founder war their father, they split then the business into Aldi Nord and Süd, which it’s a division between North and South Germany (i am not sure about the eastern part also these has some Iberian Conquistadores Vibes.)
Anyways, looking at Trader Joes it’s definitely has some similarities with Aldi economical wise. A lot of grocery stores in Europe do have a similar approach with cheaper off-brand products, it’s not a big secret here that it’s the same manufacturer who produces branded goods.
… Minus the Tiki Vibe, though.
The Trader Joe's vegetable section may be covered in plastic but it's SO accessible. It's the best place, at least in my area, to get the kind of pre-prepared vegetables (at an affordable price) that make it possible for me actually cook. As a disabled person, Trader Joes makes cooking so much more available to me because I can start with ingredients like pre-cut veggies, ready-to-cook or pre-cooked proteins, and excellent pre-made sauces. The lower number of total options and smaller footprint of the store also makes it easier for me to get in and out quickly, which is easier on my body as well.
Exactly!
Their pre-cut veggies are great for soup! One of my favorite things there.
I live in NYC. I am from Italy. I mostly shop at TJ. They import good, solid products and they sell them at a fair price. A lot of decent food is so overpriced in the US, while junk food is cheap. Their stuff from Italy is probably rebranded from quality mainstream producers. Anyway, I buy stuff from all over the world. The customer service is great. A lot of products that are imported have fewer fillers, artificial flavors, and sugar than comparable foods from other supermarkets. There is Aldi as well in NYC, not as much, but TJ has a better selection and overall experience.
I’m from Massachusetts, but NYC has been my home since the 1980s. I agree with you about Trader Joe’s for the most part, although most of their fresh produce (as the video notes) and dairy offerings are markedly inferior to other purveyors.
There are a few Lidl stores (owned by Aldi
Sud IIRC) in and around NYC including one on West 118th Street. Given your favorable impression of Trader Joe’s, I reckon you’ll like Lidl as well. (The local Lidls are rebranded Best Markets and some are reportedly lousy.)
@@paulinbrooklyn thanks. The produce I get at Trader Joe’s are pre washed Brussels sprouts, cruciferous mix, some jalapeños. I have been to Lidl in Europe, in the 1990s. I have been to Aldi here in the USA. I love their Fair Trade Organic single origin whole bean coffee from Peru. It costs $6.19 a pack and it is better than some fancy Partners coffee that costs $16/20 for a similar 340g/12oz bag. Coffee is so overpriced in the USA, like wine, pasta, beer, rice compared to Italy and Europe in general. Specialty coffee in the USA costs around $48/60 per kg, in London UK it would be $32 per kg. Same for Lavazza blends, in the USA $24/kg vs $10/15 per kg in Europe.
Anyway Trader Joe’s balances the high cost of cooking at home in the USA in general.
❤ TJ
My number one reason for going to Trader Joe's is their special diet/allergen free products. I'm gluten free (medically) and vegan. It's hard enough for me to go to a store and find products that are gluten free, or vegan, never mind BOTH. Trader Joe's makes good gluten free vegan products and at a good price! I know folks are saying the cost of their groceries can add up when you get all of the special premade frozen and dessert goodies here, but for gluten free and vegan food, it is SO less expensive at TJ's than in any other grocery store! And TJ's generally makes good quality GF vegan foods, whereas there are still a lot of unsatisfying GF/vegan foods sold in big grocery stores that taste like nothing.
And while their produce is never the most fresh, I do appreciate that for a lot of their conventional produce, they have an organic counterpart. I'm sure the Whole Foods near me has plenty of organic produce, but that is frankly too expensive for me and the other grocery stores nearby have only a few items that are organic, if any.
So right! I have three kids, one is gluten-free, dairy-free, another is GF, DF, and corn-free and my oldest became a vegan about three years ago. We don't live near a Trader Joe's but when we visit family out of state we always make sure we leave room in the car to stock up at TJ's before we go home. More than once a kid rode 5 hours home with a bag full of bread for the freezer to get us through to the next visit. We were having to buy things at the health food store and would easily spend double what the same things cost at TJ's. Shopping can be hard when you can't eat what "everyone" else is eating, glad you found somewhere to get what you need at an affordable price. :)
Yup I can’t have milk so it so hard to find dairy substitute that don’t cost an arm and leg.
Worth a mention, would have been that Trader Joe's donates unsold food to local organizations.
That is true! I've witnessed this at a local homeless shelter.
The crux of TJs is that they don't stock multiple brands of each product. That keeps their store compact and quick to navigate. At Supermarkets you have to scan the 2 dozen spaghetti sauces for which one is currently on sale. Then you have to read the label of that product, get infuriated that it's less food and most corn syrup, and go home wondering if you had enough reserve sauce to make it until the next shop. With TJs, you read the label one time, decide whether it's nutritious or junk and then purchase it every time if you decide it's a good product. The quality is high, so most products barely require that ingredient check. Lately, TJs has been eliminating some staples like soy milk, soy ice cream, Tofurky italian vegan sausages, and all-fruit preserves. Bad TJs. We have never shopped there solely, but for decades, they've provided us with the plurality of our food.
Well said! I never do my entire shopping my there but I found my trusty staples and I go shopping there every week to stock on them.
Trader Joe's reusable bags are popular in Japan for some reason. I've seen at least a dozen people be carrying those around in the streets😂😂😂
Yeah! I saw that too, 😂
I started seeing them here in Canada too (me included)
Yes; it’s not unusual for people from other countries 🗺 to come in to our stores and buy our reusable $.99 bags in bulk as gifts 🎁 .
They really are the best bags despite being inexpensive 😊!
Canada as well. When I'm in Canada working or visiting family, I use my Tj bags as purse alternatives, and people constantly stop me to compliment me on them and even ask to buy them. It's a weird novelty coveting thing
interesting to hear TJ's described as "not chaotic or overwhelming"; i live in philly and the center city TJ's is literally always packed, the checkout line reaches around the store and blocks the outside aisles, and its one of the most chaotic shopping experiences i've ever had. i've never been to any other TJ's so maybe this one is just particularly small, in a very high-population, high-income area.
Would love to see a video on Aldi. I saw them at the top of the sustainability list by a good margin. I love going there for grocery basics. While the environment isn't as fun and friendly as Trader Joe's I still find it a much better experience than a bigger store
I agree, I kept going back to try to read that list. I'm curious about Aldi because they have lots of stuff in single use plastic and they sell a decent amount of junky stuff (non foods). Some of their non foods are good quality, but not all. I'd also be interested in Lidl. Both are all over Europe, so you'd probably have lots of viewers interested.
Liked the video but I do think there was a part missing in the identity that Trader Joe’s has.
Trader Joe’s seems to put their stores in areas where income is on the higher end. Aldi/Trader Joe’s being “cousins” plays into this. Aldis are in areas where the income may be middle to low with an emphasis on low prices instead of uniqueness of products. Trader Joe’s is very much an Aldi but for people with some semblance of wealth/high income. It would be interesting to see if others who watch this channel feel the same way.
You're probably not wrong! There's not a conclusive source that proves this but it would make sense given that they target "well traveled" consumers which implies money. Good point!
YES! I live in the poorer part of town and there is an Aldis right up the street. If I want to shop at Trader Joe's, then I have to drive 30 minutes to the 'nice' part of town where all the people live in big brick houses with swimming pools. I don't like to drive across town, so I don't go there very often. Aldis is so basic, with so many 'knock off' products (read: not as good as), same small grocery feel, but their produce is kind of... spoiled. And I hate the coin slot carts and boxing my own groceries up. Good thing there are still other choices in grocery stores, because I won't shop at either TJ's or Aldis.
There’s only on TJ in my entire city and it’s located in a nice suburb. Meanwhile I can think of at least 5 different Aldi all sitting in crappy neighborhoods. I can see a correlation here 🤔🤔🤔🤔
My area has both TJ's & Aldis. Both are located in universal areas. I would say getting to either one is even for both upper or lower income. I guess it just depends on where you live.
@@FutureProofTV “well traveled” sounds like an assumption of a monolithic community. In the Bay Area we have MANY Trader Joe’s locations and bc of cost of living, TJ’s is rather affordable compared to other grocery stores like Safeway. While I agree TJ’s tends to set up shop in areas that are not low-income, the locations local to me are very accessible to low-income ppl in very nearby neighborhoods that are considered low-income via public transportation or even just a short walk. Anyway, I’ve never seen TJ’s really catering to “well traveled individuals” (I think of maybe Cost Plus World Market for that), but for ppl who have diverse tastes bc the areas the stores are located are diverse in itself.
Several of the TJ "exclusive" products are sold at Aldi under a different label. The bagel seasoning is my favorite ... Aldi's is exactly the same, only it costs less.
Signed, Trader Joe's fan since the 1980s who now does not live close to one, but has an Aldi within walking distance.
Aldi in NYC has awful tasting products. TJs does taste tests before they carry the item.
It’s wild to me that the “store brand products are made by national brands who want to keep that market share” thing isn’t widely known. Like, one of the things people say about why Kirkland Vodka from Costco is so good is that it’s made by Gray Goose. It’s kind of an open secret. Speaking of Costco, if you look at the Kirkland Brand packages of par-cooked bacon, it says (or used to say) “Hormel” right there on the package bold as brass. Everybody always talks about how, when buying a brand name product, you’re paying a premium for the name itself (and advertising, etc) so I’m kind of confused when people who study business suggest the idea that a store brand item purchased at closer to cost from a national brand and sold at a lower cost under the “No name” store brand is “crazy”. Like, do we understand how this works or not? How is the store brand going to offer the product at a lower price point if not through the economy of scale that a national brand can take advantage of?
I also do like that Trader Joe’s (and Aldi) offer “fewer SKUs) because a large percentage of the thousands more SKUs at like Walmart are duplicate items. Trader Joe’s has one kind of cat litter. Walmart has an entire side of an isle with like 60 different kinds of cat litter from 6 different brands with like 10 different product lines each.
We've got a vegetable canning / freezing plant in town. One minute the packaging says "Del Monte" and the next minute, they say "Great Value". And it's the exact same vegetables. 😂
I think the other thing about Trader Joes is that each store tends to have products that you can't find at other locations. A trip to Trader Joes, much like Costco is like a treasure hunt. "What will they have this week/month"
Truck driver here. Company I used to drive for would have me pick up at a brewery that not only provided their own brand beer, but they also brewed beer for Trader Joe's! (says it in super fine print on the packaging who brews it) but this tripped me out every time I'd pick up a load there and take it to TJ's warehouse in SoCal. One of those "not-so-secret-secrets" I guess.
What brewery and beer?
Traders is where I do most of my shopping. They’re cheap, pleasant to walk around, Don’t shove 50 types of each product in your face, incredibly good staff, quick checkouts, kid friendly (my toddler does the shopping with the mini cart) (occasionally gets stickers as well) and relatively well priced (with organic products such as milk, eggs) I’ve def noticed the prices going up but it’s still better than shopping at a Publix or mass chain for small batch products.
I used to work in accounting at Trader Joe's and having becoming very familiar with the vendors. I can say that the suppliers are basically the same as the big box stores such as vegetables, cheeses and dips. But there are unique import things as well like the candies and wine.
Just a note, there used to be a sort of Trader Joe’s on 4th Avenue in Vancouver called Pirate Joe’s. The owner hired people to purchase from TJ’s in the states and he would resell at a markup. Trader Joe’s did sue the owner and he changed the name of the store to Irate Joe’s. I believe he won the first suit but when Trader Joe’s sued again he was forced to close the store.
Small clarification: He was only forced to close due to the high court/legal fees. Legally he wasn't doing anything wrong. He was doing everything by the book. :)
@@liamkearns363 yes you’re right. He did not lose the second suit, he just couldn’t/wouldn’t pay the legal fees.
Hilarious! Thank You💛
🧐 As a happy TJs crew member, I just wanted to add that we’re able to keep our prices low because we pay our vendors in cash 💰!
Fun fact: Here in Germany you can see the unique manifacturing plant ID like "DE 12345" on a product, so you can check that yes, in fact, the cheap product next to the named product is from the same factory - sometimes the cheap option uses a different amount of ingredients tho. I've been to a Trader Joes-like store in Australia for the first time and boy is it nice to shop there :)
Resembles European (actually, German) stores, which makes sense given the Aldi connection. As for prices, look up private labels like Ja! in the German market. Same concept. Cheaper products compared to branded alternatives, nearly the same set of ingredients (and most likely suppliers too). Nice video :)
Yeah, reminds me a lot of LIDL, this story of Trader Joe's.
Only reason I go to Trader Joe's is because their products and produces are so cheap compared to other grocery stores. I don't like the whole vibe and lack of produce options though. I also live in NYC and he's wrong about the store being not chaotic. It is the most chaotic grocery store I've been to in the city because of its small square footage
Trader Joe cheap? What neighborhood do you reside in NYC From my experience TJ is more expensive especially when you look at the ounces. You're getting much less when compared to a supermarket, which is why only certain items I get at TJ and the majority from my local supermarket. I could never do my full grocery shopping at Trader Joe.
That's something we've heard from other commenters. I think it really depends on the size of the city around it...
I used to be an avid TJs shopper starting in the late 90s but "fell out of "love" with them" mid 2019. Prices kept going WAY up on stock things like bread, cheeses, fruits and they'd carry a really excellent product like eggless/sugar free mayonnaise for years and suddenly discontinue it or offer only an organic version at triple the price. Just like ambiance of a restaurant can be nice but does you no good if you can't afford the food there.
Trader Joe's is designed for busy people who don't cook. It feels like 70% of the items are $4.50 heat-and-serve meals. I do love a lot of their items and I go there weekly especially when I don't feel like cooking from scratch. I live in Manhattan so 'roaming the aisles' is a hilarious concept. Trader Joe's is so crowded that the checkout line extends through the ENTIRE STORE. For Manhattan it's considered very cheap.
I live in Toronto and a heat-and-serve meal for $4.50 USD would be considered very cheap here, too.
Interesting because I cook everything from scratch and still get many products from traders. Choco chips, coconut sugar, fresh produce, milk eggs and bread are all items which traders have better quality (ingredients) options for very good pricing making it a staple in our house
As a Canadian i love trader joes🤣 something about not having smth in your country makes it 10x more desirable….
There was a guy operating a bootleg TJ's resale "shop" in Vancouver called Pirate Joe's. They paid people to bring back popular TJ's products from Bellingham, marked them up, and sold them to Vancouverites. I don't know how long they were around, and I never went shopping there myself, but I love that there's such a cult following for TJ's in Canada that we would go to the length of bootlegging their goods. 😂
That's how I feel about Coffee Crisp and ketchup flavored potato chips in the US.
💯 it's the "grass is greener" thing for sure.
A lot of us who love Trader Joe's are very much aware of TJ's problems. So, I go for the things that I can't get elsewhere - especially the seasonal stuff, and to my local grocery for everything else. Their items are all very tasty - I wouldn't go back if they weren't - and when I really need something for a quick meal, I can always find something which appeals. I'd be very sad if TJ's disappeared from our area, but we have a really good local chain that has stepped up since they moved in, and while they are more expensive, I buy most of my staples there, so I think I'd survive 😉.
Love the history, but lets not forget the takeover of tiki was not just California.
Canada invented hawaiian pizza 😬
Solid video as always!
So Canada is to blame for pineapple on pizza??
@@MatthewJBD a Greek immigrant living in Canada to be exact.
As a Canadian I feel like I chose to forget that fact? Man... finally something innovative Canada can really be proud of. 😂
@@Trekki200 god bless that man
SKU isn't the number of items they have in store, it's the number of unique items they have in store. like 10 jars of 2 different sizes of the same brand of peanut butter would be 10 stock and 2 SKUs
The amount of plastic in the produce section is why I’ve never chosen to shop at trader Joe’s. Especially while living in LA, where any other grocery store you go to has a huge plastic free produce section (which is 80% of my shop anyway), it feels like they’re stuck in the 80s or something. Hopefully they’ll change that soon 🤞
I work there, and I buy my vegetables elsewhere without packaging!
I literally lives off Trader Joe’s in college because they were right off the bus stop, and their frozen section had veggies and chicken with pre-made sauce packets, so I would dump all the stuff into one big pot and mix it all together.
Knowing that they’re not flawless doesn’t detract from my good memories, and I give kudos to them for not being terrible like Walmart, but I do agree with Levi that hopefully they can do better in the future
For me, the fruit and veggies are more flavorful and last longer than all the big stores around me. I thought for a long time that apples just went mealy after a week no matter where you get them so I was floored when they last 4 before I ate them all. An onion from tjs makes me cry while GE or kroger or walmart seem more like water chestnuts to my eyes and mouth. Thanks for the video, I finally know why I like tjs so much
I have never been to the US yet, but I know Trader Joe's as a brand name, and I know it from Aldi, because here in Germany they sell "typical" US products under the Trader Joe's branding at Aldi.
The TJ's peanut butter that they sell, I first ate it as a child somewhere in the 90's, and that's where my love for peanut butter started.
So basically, it‘s Aldi‘s market strategy wrapped in the original Trader Joe‘s branding.
Here in Germany, it is well known that the branded stuff is produced by the same manufacturers that also do the store-brands. Hence why not many Germans fall for the double priced stuff
It's a lot like Aldi, but upmarket. Everything is a bit better quality than you can get at Aldi, and a bit more expensive.
Trader Joe’s customer service is second to none! I’m every one I have been to in many states as a travel nurse. Love the people at Trader Joe’s!
We love you, too.
From day one, TJ's emphasizes the "customer experience."
They have a Pyramid illustration in back, with the customer being represented on the top.
I personally really do not enjoy shopping at TJs because of it being so small and so busy. I feel rushed in each aisle because there’s usually a single file line of people behind me. They do make this bomb ass cookie butter spread that I couldn’t live without so I make sure to stock up every time
yeah nice store but here in portland its so damn busy. It would be awesome if it was quiet like a small town store
A manager at Trader Joe's earns $60k per year???
That's bonkers compared to UK. Here managers would we be on about half that, maybe £35k at best.
Probably partly due to cost of living here in the US. We don’t have public universal healthcare. We have to pay for our own health insurance out of our employment income, and that insurance is provided by private companies who are out to make money. My understanding is you simply just pay higher taxes that help fund healthcare, so it probably equals out by comparison.
I’ve been shopping Trader Joe’s for most groceries for about 20 years and my college age son has worked there now for over a year while taking classes.
It’s true for employees that the benefit structure has changed a bit because healthcare costs skyrocket every year and the company modified benefits, (emphazing HMOs, and raising the number of work hours needed to qualify to somewhere in between part and full time), rather than cutting them. The safety issues aren’t major but are present, mostly related to the small size of the stores. (The product unloading and stocking areas are smaller, and really busy).
Their interview process is designed to screen for extroverts.
The employees actually explain to people that some of Trader Joe products are made by name brand manufacturers and sold for less as Trader Joe’s brand. It’s a plus, especially with the personal “cosmetic” products.
The specialty products are a draw but you can get high quality family staples there for half the price-like bread,milk, eggs, apples, canned beans, pasta and olive oil. Also, pre packaged lunches like salads, pita sandwich rolls run 4-7 dollars vs. 10-15.
I couldn’t help but notice that my state’s pride and joy HEB was just one spot above TJs on sustainability. That is surprising to me because they tout their “local farmers, Texas only” products all the time. And everyone here is OBSESSED with them. I’m intrigued now about why they scored so low.
The secret is: don’t believe the big organizations.
Yes, please!!! Anything on no-brand/ white label products!!!
It's coming! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
You forgot the best part of trader Joe's: their microwavable food is amazing
Trader Joe’s is only really good for their unique snacks and frozen foods.
Like that stand up comic once said: “I love Trader Joe’s, I also love when you go to a different grocery store to get all stuff you couldn’t get there”
I used to feel that way, but more and more often I can get everything I need at TJs.
Lol super accurate 😂
not at all. The only thing is their meat is too expensive. otherwise I get everything there
@@MrKongatthegates yeah aldi and costco takes the win for good pricing on meats
I have celiac and a corn allergy and one of the things that I really appreciate about Trader Joe's is that they've continued to stock a lot of food that I can actually eat. Because g-free was such a huge fad for a while, a lot of box stores and grocery stores have dropped their g-free products or sell them at astronomical prices. I can get a loaf of rice bread at trader joe's for $4.50 when a similar product like Udi's costs $9 a loaf at albertson's. And I can get brown rice penne at TJ's for $3 a bag compared to $4.70 for a box of g-free spaghetti at WalMart.
Still a bummer that they do cycle out a lot of stuff. TJ's had boxed mac and cheese that I could eat for $2 a package and stopped carrying it last year, so i'm stuck getting annie's for $3-5 a box.
Generally what this means is that I do a lot of my grocery shopping for produce at discount markets and for meat and dairy at Aldi, but I end up going to TJ's for celiac-safe food.
I'm currently a stay at home mom with 2 babies and Trader Joes is easily my favorite place to go grocery shopping. The limited scale of their stores definitely makes shopping more efficient, but it also has allowed me to develop a friendly rapport with several of their staff members. I know them and they know me & my kids by name and are very sweet with them. While grocery shopping with small children still isn't "relaxing," it's refreshing to go somewhere where you're treated like you matter and not like you're inconveniencing them by being there.
levi is close to camera now!!
I love how each trader Joe's seem to adapt to the environment. and the the products are top notch in health for processed foods, _most_ of the time
Keep in mind that just because a product is made by the same company or even in the same factory, that does not mean they are of the same quality.
I work at a grocery store and I love Trader Joe’s and do most of my shopping there. I love there freezer meals because I work 15-17 hour days. Also their prices are really affordable because they use the store brand marketing method and you’re not overwhelmed by choice. Sometimes I will be walking down the aisles at work find it hard to make decide about what to buy because we have 12 feet of shelves filled with different pasta sauces vs Trader Joe’s has two shelves.
You work 15-17 hour days? How?!
@@Geskipt I have a full time and part time job. So I typically work from 7am-11pm four to six days a week.
0:16 ... me, a Canadian, glancing to the right of my tiny dorm room only to see my fresh, unopened EBTB seasoning I bought just for uni:
I am one of the obsessors
Having lived "next to" a Trader Joe's (literally less than 10 minutes away, by car), I can't move ANYWHERE that doesn't have access to a Trader Joe's.
Their broad and unusual product selection (and occasionally their pricing) can't be beat by regular grocery stores.
Now, if only we had a Whole Foods (aka "Whole Paycheck")...
Cheap, easy to prepare foods from Trader Joe's were basically my entire diet through college.
Thank you for the sources document! It's refreshing to see channels providing information with references to back up their claims. Keep up the good work :)
Our pleasure! Thanks for looking at it! Our writers spend a lot of time working on these and it's good to hear someone is reading haha
My local Trader Joe's is right across from Costco. Every weekend, it's like Shopping extravaganza with cars driving across a tiny intersection to go between these two stores.
The Indian food at Trader Joe's is pretty on point. Both in taste and in heartburn.
Like it literally hits the spot.
Also necessitates Pepto Bismol... ULTRA.
Would never describe going to Trader Joe's as "not chaotic." The high demand coupled with the small floorplan has made every time I've gone to one extremely claustrophobic. I'll stick to Stop N' Shop.
If you're working banker's hours you're going to have a bad time grocery shopping.
That’s why I go in the morning on weekdays, and that’s with any store, not just TJs. I loathe going to places like Target on a weekend afternoon. (Overcrowded, kids running loose everywhere, the shelves are a mess and half empty, etc)Unfortunately most people can’t do this because the work 9-5 schedules…I work 12h shifts so more off time during the week
@@MilwaukeeWoman True but I don't, and no mater what time I've gone into a TJ, it's been disproportionally crowded. Regardless if that was in Union Square NYC or my current one in podunk Massachusetts.
Trader Joes is always busy. I go for the fun seasonal stuff and buy my real food at Whole Foods..
I love Trader Joe's ❤️. I don't buy too many fruits or veggies there as they rot faster. But overall it's so fun for me to go there. It's an experience.
Sorry you got the Aldi thing wrong. Trader Joes is owned by the brother who owns Aldi Nord (north), and Aldi is owned by the brother who owns Aldi Süd(south). Please see Black Forest Family's recent video on the topic for more info.
Yeah... being confronted with 20 different brands of the same 3 flavors (but not the flavor you want) of the same item is anxiety-inducing if you haven't been in a big box grocery store in awhile.
Trader Joe's has 2 or 3 flavors of the thing. Pick the one you want. Or not. Done.
This and Costco are the only two stores I really enjoy shopping at
Slightly tweaked non-brand name products for cheaper, no couponing to get low prices, small store and shelf space to save time and not over shop. Much better than most grocery stores.
I quit shopping at Trader Joe’s. For a couple reason. First, they only open locations in affluent areas. I’ll pass at least 10 regular grocery stores, to access this niche store. Second, as he put it “the Trader Joe’s experience” is why I quit going out of my way to shop there. It is not this nice slow pace causal shopping experience. Anywhere I stood, there were people behind me waiting to get to where I was shopping. After 45 minutes of shopping congestion, and being on the verge of a panic attack, I have never gone back. TJ’s use to be a casual store. But as they’ve become more popular, they still only put locations in six figure income areas, it’s not worth the time, the gas or the headache.
I shop at Trader Joe's because they carry items I can't get anywhere else.
-They have the best tasting carrot juice
-They have (or had) turkey corndogs, which I LOVE
-They are the only place I've found frozen falafel balls
-They have the best-tasting and most-affordable ginger cookies
-They have the best prices on nuts, dried & frozen fruits, and fresh produce
These are the things that keep me coming back, and it's not easy to get to a Trader Joe's from where I live.
So, yeah; part of the draw is the low prices. Do I think they sell only exclusive items? Don't care. Most of what I buy is either fresh (and so not wrapped in plastic) or not available elsewhere or a better price. I never believed they sold purely in-house reciped items. Even their advertising (they DO mail out flyers) states they buy from other countries, but the items I purchase are either a better price than anywhere else or unavailable anywhere else.
As for union-busting, name me a commercial business that doesn't engage in union-busting. They ALL are guilty of this. And while my custom gets won by any chain stores who work with unions instead of against them, if union-busting was a reason to stop buying from them, then you wouldn't have any outlet to go to. (And I know; until recently I worked for Kroger.) At least they don't skimp on employment by having self-checkout lanes. I refuse to self-checkout if I can avoid it, specifically because it's a loss of employment to someone.
Okay but why is the Trader Joe’s parking lot the tenth circle of hell?
There are alot of house branded beers in The Netherlands that are brewed by either Heineken or Bavaria(the beer not the province in Germany)
But are sold for alot less.
The Albrecht family is pretty much the European Walton family. Aldi is HUGE!
I love trader Joe's. They opened one 10 minutes from my house and I couldn't be happier, but it is good to know that they aren't hitting the mark with sustainability.
The Trader Joe’s wine store in NYC closed suddenly several months ago. The company put out a reason being that the store was struggling, coincidentally that same store was planning to unionize the very next day after the closure.
I heard it was due to the constant looting and stealing being done because of Dems cashless bail and just returning criminals back to the streets to commit more crimes. Average crime up 31% in the last year. I wonder why this is?
I live in Michigan, and i am a Trader Joe’s stan. I follow a plant-based diet and I have been able to find alot of great meal options. Love the produce, also.
My area has two Trader Joe’s way out in the suburbs, and I just can’t go to either. The customers are so rude and abrasive, but the main reason is they redlined our urban shopping center. I know someone who is in the development corp and Trader Joe’s was really awful about their thoughts on our urban area and the neighborhood surrounding the shopping center. Meanwhile ALDIs eventually moved in across from Target and is outrageously busy and had to enlarge their store after only a few years.
I like TJ's for the frozen meals, as it helps me manage my energy, but I do sometimes notice a sort of "mandatory fun" atmosphere - it's not every time, but you can tell there are some workers who are not thrilled to be there. It think it would be better to encourage a fun atmosphere...while letting some people just be neutral
My friend was one of the sign makers at a store. She didn't like it too much and basically stayed there for the health insurance until he own business picked up.
Ya I just like the small size of the store, you dont have to walk for miles, and really good products at great prices
Former employee commenting, 1) TJ also keep prices low, by purchasing in cash, no line of credit. Interest adds price on products. 2) ozone issue, well it’s the refrigerator units on the floor, I believe they where Freon based, which has been banned. Yes TJ has begun to replace them. 3) I’ve personally seen evidence of same product different labels. When a case of soy milk has 1 unit inside with the “O” brand exclusive to Whole Foods raises an eyebrow. Word of mouth Southern California TJ dairy is supplied by RockView at some point in time. 4) Although TJ in the past has treated their employees extremely well it’s changed. It’s becoming more corporate year by year by cutting benefits and raises. The people who benefited from this have retired. The golden years of working for TJ are gone.
Where i live Trader Joe hasn't really found an in because we already had our locally owned chain, Wegman's. They are pretty close the same and they have been a figure in our area for 50 years. They always get awards for employee satisfaction and their products and service is amazing. They source products from local business when possable as well.
What you describe actually sounds very similar to Aldi and other discounters in Europe. Also people here know private labels are often the same stuff as brand products, and the economy is still doing fine.
When grocery store chains started to open in Italy (several years ago), one of their biggest novelties was their "brand product lines".
Due to Italy's extremely strict labelling laws, we all knew from the start that the "QUACK QUACK JUICE" sold as brand product for 1 euro was manufactured in the same exact plant as the "MY CHILD DRINKS BETTER JUICE" advertised on prime time TV and sold for 2,5 euro. We kind of looked for these products that could give us the same quality without the price.
That said, it's a shame that Trader Joe's has sh*tty produce because it sounds exactly like the grocery shop I'd be wanting to shop in.
Unless I need very specific things, I'm loath to shop in those huge, soulless "retail hells". I don't need 56 types of chips, I need 6 good ones.
TJ's doesn't have shifty produce. Their produce is widely raved and sought after especially fruits. The video focused on bagged lettuce offerings which isn't the bulk of their list. The video didn't show the remaining balance of fruits and veggies sold per piece or in other bags (ex. Apples and Oranges naturally would be bagged). TJ's fresh flowers and plants section wasn't mentioned either. Lastly, no mention of their housewares and home / health section which has higher quality than GNC.
I have shopped at Trader Joe's all my life and I don't know where he got "shitty produce" from. The produce is EXCELLENT, fresh and flavorful. One trip into a TJ's and reading some articles online don't make an authority on Trader Joe's.
I love working at TJs. Left my management role to come here. It's been such a great transition for me mentally. We have the best time everyday and always havenfun
One of the most sustainable grocery store chains is actually Stater Bros. Like you said, Trader Joe's uses a lot of packaging.
The questionable source of their products doesn’t really bother me. As long as you’re buying something in a store, you’re never going to be 100% positive of a product’s origins. If you want food that is guaranteed unique and safe, farm.
Really looking forward to the no name brand video! This video gave excellent insight into American culture!
LOL
As a person from Germany I have to object a bit. There are similarities between Aldi's and Trader Joe's. Both have a restricted range of products with seasonal and time restricted offers. For most of their existence, Aldi's was not advertising. They only started advertising about 3 years ago in Germany. Since then they've also tried to set themselves apart by a more exclusive store design, special muesli compositions, a wide range of organic products and the promise to only sell meat from ethical sources by 2030. So I do think that they learn from each other in some ways, even though both of them are their own brand.
The customer service is also awesome. I love the staff.
My old coworker pre-pandemic used to dumpster dive at a Trader Joes here in Portland Oregon. She said they threw out tons of stuff and she got most of her food there. I've been to different Trader Joe's around Portland and the one in Vancouver Washington. It's interesting the different mix of customers you see at different stores. The one closest to me is a mix of rich people and punk rockers. You'll see a person in a Wipers shirt and a person with a Louis Vuitton bag.
Big Trader Joe’s fan here. I don’t speak for anyone else but as someone who constantly reminds them-self that there is no ethical consumption under capitalism, I just consider TJ my guilty pleasure. 😂 at the end of the day we’ve all gotta get food from some where and I’ve never dreaded going to a TJ’s. The same cannot be said for a Walmart lol I still appreciate this video tho bc it forces one to take off the rose colored lenses for places like TJ.
The Aldi Logo you used is for Aldi Süd. But Theodor Albrecht owned Aldi Nord. Saying Theodor Albrecht owned a few Aldi stores is quite funny... (was it meant to be a joke?). The Albrecht heirs actually are in top ten of the richest people in Germany.
Trader Joes is owned by the side of the family that owns Aldi Nord, Aldi Sud is the chain we know in the US. The majority of what you can get at Trader Joes you can get from Aldi for less, but with less adjectives on their labeling.
loving the uploads ^^
yes
Loving your comments. ❤🙏🏻
The fun thing is that we have no Trader Joes here in Germany but we have a lot of US products but the brand Trader Joes at … At Aldi what totally makes sense 😊 but just stuff like maple syrup or cranberry syrup or peanut butter and no fancy pumpkin butter or stuff. And I am so sad that we don’t have fancy pumpkin spice season things in Germany except Some pumpkin spice mixes you can buy online or pumpkin spice latte by Starbucks…
I no longer shop at TJ but the thing I liked is employees seem much happier and are willing to help customers. Other major markets the employees look like they are barely hanging on.
Trader Joe's is my favorite. It's the Whole Foods Market for the middle class (what's left of it). Really interesting foods and reasonable prices, in a fun environment.
That's a bummer about their chocolate suppliers, those humongous chocolate bars are probably my family's favorite product
I prefer a regular supermarket. I don't like having to stop at several different stores to get everything that I need. I'm not going to the store to have a good time, I'm going to get my errands done as fast as possible.
Well, when my son was little and I was a widow on WIC, I was able to go to TJ’s and buy a weeks worth of affordable healthy-ish groceries, including fun stuff, every week. The checkers were flirty, helpful and nice. However, I don’t shop there anymore because my tastes have “matured” and I don’t eat processed foods because of salt, etc. I also don’t like their veggies - too much packaging. Many of the items I’ve bought there over the years were not very high quality - in other words, you get what you pay for. I feel like a trader now (see what I did there?).
The jokes in this episode are unhinged and I’m here for it 😂
Meh, I'm a Canadian who moved to SF a few years ago and personally, I really miss Loblaws. They had way better products (PC Brand) and more choice. I know that Trader Joe's philosophy is different than your average grocery chain, but it also grinds my gears that I need to go to a different store to buy basics like cleaning supplies, detergent and toothpaste. 😩
I never noticed that they dont have drug store type goods paper or cleaning or hygene stuff thats true
They sell that stuff here in Portland Oregon as far as I am aware. I've seen a review of their detergent and it said it sucked Vs. Tide, etc. I think the toothpaste they sell is Tom's of Maine.
I like TJ’s, but I’m also serious about stretching my budget. The store is not the only place I need to shop for food - they aren’t great for fresh veggies, as you note, and sale items at other stores are often less expensive than at TJ. For me, TJ’s is just a part of my usual grocery store shopping. But it is the most fun!
I like them for the simple reason that they have good products at low prices. When I first got into them, they had whole wheat pasta for only a slight premium over regular, vs. like double-price in mainstream supermarkets, though that's changed. They're still a great source of frozen fish, cheese, and nuts. Currently I can get basically the same whole wheat pita for $1.99 at TJ or $3.99 at Safeway, do the math. Cheapest soy milk around me too, though my transportation option doesn't favor hauling liquids home from there. Their European style yogurt is like 2/3 the price of Strauss's, probably the same product. Etc.