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What is Trader Joe's?
"It's kind of like the Grateful Dead of supermarkets." -- Len Lewis, author of book on Trader Joe's
"It's like a cross between a religious cult and a merchant ship." -- Irwin Speizer, business writer
"The chain's progressive social values . . . combine the aggressive pricing structure of a Wal-Mart with the business philosophy of Ben and Jerry." -- Chris Erikson, NY Post
"The closest thing I've seen to this in retail is Harley-Davidson. People love Harley; they shop Harley; they wear Harley." -- David Livingston, supermarket consultant
Trader Joe's has more than doubled its stores in the past five years -- the currently tally is 280 stores in 23 states, and they are still expanding. (See list of store openings below.)
Where else could you find things like Organic Polenta, English Cheddar with Carmelized Onions, Organic Green Tea Pasta, Microwavable Scrambled Egg Whites, Chocolate-Coated Sunflower Seeds, and New Zealand Salmon?
And wine too! Trader Joe's best-known beverage has to be its low-priced Charles Shaw wine -- nicknamed "Two Buck Chuck," or in some areas, "Three Buck Chuck."
Trader Joe's Cookbook!
Cooking with All Things Trader Joe's
$29.95. Make healthy, gourmet meals in minutes using the unique prepped ingredients at Trader Joe's stores. The cookbook is easy to use, fun to read, and features full-color photos for every recipe. This unique cookbook is produced like a hardcover, with a sewn binding, but with a glossy flexible cover.
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Amazon Price: (as of 12/15/2009) 
Trader Joe's Coming Soon To....
- Saugus, MA
- Trader Joe's coming to the Shops at Saugus, a 103,483-square foot shopping center that is under construction at Route 1 in Saugus, MA.
- Brooklyn, NY
- Per The Gothamist -- will be at Independence Savings Bank building at Court and Atlantic. However, sale of alchohol will not be permitted.
- Raleigh, NC
- It's official. Coming in 2009. Corner of Wake Forest Road and Interstate 440.
- Charlotte, NC - 3rd store coming!
- UPDATE: TJ's confirmed plans to open a third store near uptown at Metropolitan in the 2nd half of 2008.
First Charlotte store opened August 17th. It is in the former Harris Teeter in Piper Glen, 6418 Rea Road.
A second store opened in The Arbors, on Mallard Creek Church Rd. between Senator Royall and Claude Freeman drives. - Oakland, CA - 2 stores opening soon
- Opening Soon -- Trader Joe's is poised to take over two former Albertson stores: one at 5727 College Avenue and one at 3250 Lakeshore Avenue.
- Redding, CA
- Coming "before October 1" 2008 to Browning Street at Hilltop Drive.
- Berkeley, CA
- UPDATE 4-18-08. Trader Joe's is coming.
"The proposed Trader Joe's grocery store in Downtown Berkeley overcame a legal hurdle Wednesday when a judge dismissed neighbors' complaints about the project. "
At Martin Luther King Jr. Way and University Avenue. - Columbia, MD
- November 2nd! -- Confimation of a store at Gateway Overlook, a 123-acre, mixed-use development under construction at Routes 175 and 108 on the edge of Columbia.
- San Jose, CA - near airport
- Opening slated for March 2007. It will be located at the San Jose MarketCenter, a new shopping complex near San Jose's airport.
- Chino Hills, CA
- New store will open at The Shoppes, which will be at Grand Avenue and Peyton Drive.
- Minnetonka, MN
- Coming to the former World Market location at Hopkins Crossroads and 394. To open in the fall of 2009.
- Atlanta, GA
- Norcross, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Midtown and Marietta now open. Trader Joe's has an estimated goal of a dozen stores in the metro Atlanta area. (Per Atlanta Journal-Constitution.)
- Gilroy, CA
- Slated to open Nov. 17, 2006 per the Gilroy Dispatch article.
- Davis, CA (pending)
- UPDATE: 7-19-07. Confusion reigns!
"Adding confusion to the issue of whether or not Trader Joe's is coming to Davis, the company sent out an e-mail to Davis newspapers last Tuesday, announcing their impending arrival in 2008.
The letter states Trader Joe's expects to situate itself "on the North East Corner of Russell/Sycamore," implying that Trader Joe's would position itself in the area of the University Mall currently occupied by Davis Imaging, which specializes in radiological imaging services.
The problem is that Davis Imaging says its lease does not expire until 2009, and holds that it has the option to renew." - Ventura, CA (2nd store)
- Commitment by Trader Joe's not yet firm, but they've applied for lease to possibly open in the old American Legion building at 83 S. Palm St. in downtown Ventura.
- Chula Vista, CA
- Per the Trader Joe's web site, will be at 878 Eastlake Parkway.
- Palm Springs, CA - ? Possibly
- More than 6,000 signatures supporting an effort to bring specialty grocery store Trader Joe's to Palm Springs were presented to the City Council by the Neighborhood Involvement Committee tonight.
- Phoenix, AZ (Northeast)
- Metrocenter store is closing, but one is planned for 4726 East Shea Blvd.
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Planned for the Hilltop area (Laskin at First Colonial Rd.)
NEWS: Two Buck Chuck Wins at California State Fair
- $2 Chuck Chardonnay Wins!
- Yes indeed! It was was judged the Best Chardonnay from California at the California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition. Click the link to read all about it.
Reviews of TJ's Products
- Gnocchi
- TJ's gnocchi came in first in this taste test.
- Mini Croissants
- Click the link for full article. The reviewer calls them "perfect"!
- TJ's Smoked Salmon Wins!
- Top honors went to Trader Joe's ($7.99 for 8 ounces), which the tasters liked for its "excellent balance of mild smoke and fish flavors." Texture was described as "firm but moist." A couple of the tasters found the fish a bit salty.
Three would buy this salmon, and two might.
SF Chronicle - December 2007. - Tortillas (from LA Times)
- Trader Joe's tortillas came in seventh in the taste test. Caveat: this may only apply to the Los Angeles area stores.
"Trader Joe's handmade corn tortillas. Excellent flavor, very rustic in appearance, a bit thinner than many others, which the panel liked. Available at all Trader Joe's locations. $1.89 for one dozen." - Blue Cheese Dressing Wins Taste Test
- Click the link for full article.
Excerpt:
The winner was also the least expensive, Trader Joe's ($2.39 for 12 ounces), an organic version described as "creamy, with a mild but pleasant flavor." This one had tiny chunks of blue cheese, and a garlic flavor with hints of celery seed. One taster found it "somewhat salty."
San Francisco Chronicle 2006.
Finally! Trader Joe's Revamps Its Web Site
Check out all the new Trader Joe's content (not to mention groovy new look and feel) here.Their formerly minimal web site now has more helpful information, such as a store locator tool and a way to submit a question or comment. You can even bombard them with requests to open a location in your town!
Trader Joe Speaks
- Rare Q&A with Joe Coulombe
- Check out this link to a recent article. Founder Joe spoke to a group in L.A., and here are a few interesting things he said:
* Trader Joe's will do about $5 billion in business this year.
* Today the average full-time Trader Joe's employee earns $50,000.
Joe's Advice to Entrepreneurs
It's passive just to "know your customer." You must choose your customer, and then target your business toward them.
"It is not necessary to invent anything to be an entrepreneur," Coulombe said. "Innovation is necessary, however, to keep a business afloat."
"You can take any product, no matter how dull a commodity it may seem," said Coulombe, "and if you dig into it, you can find something different that can be exploited."
WHY WE LOVE TRADER JOE'S
1. They only sell products approved by their very picky tasting panel.2. New products are always coming out.
3. TJ's makes it easy (and delicious) to eat healthy.
4. The employees really aim to please their mega-loyal customers.
TJ's Truffles on Amazon
Websites About Trader Joe's
- Trader Joe's Web site
- Official web site. Updated site now includes product information, company history, job openings, store locator function, and even a way to contact Trader Joe's (that's new!).
- Fan Site
- A great fan site featuring product reviews, articles, recipes and a forum where Trader Joe addicts can exchange information.
- Founder Joe Coulombe's website
- "Trader Joe" Coulombe -- the purveyor of "Two Buck Chuck" -- is a wine expert, and he has his own website about wine.
- Blog - Tracking Trader Joe's
- Blog with latest news on store openings, product changes, etc.
- Seattle Yahoo! Group for Singles
- "Trader Joe's Love" is (or was) a webgroup for singles in Seattle wanting to hook up and discuss their love of Trader Joe's. Seems that the moderator has gone AWOL since late 2006. Bummer!
- Wikipedia Entry
- Page from Wikipedia with general information.
Articles About Trader Joe's Business
- The Tao of TJ's
- San Francisco Chronicle. June 2006
- Trader Joe's Gets In Your Face
- Article about hiring practices at TJ's. CommercialAppeal online. May 2006.
- The Cheap Gourmet
- Forbes. April 2006.
- Cult of Joe's
- New York Post. Feb. 28, 2006. TJ's "...combine[s] the aggressive pricing structure of a Wal-Mart with the business philosophy of Ben and Jerry."
- A New York Taste Test
- New York Times. March 2006. Article describing how foods are chosen and tested. A behind-the-scenes look at the operations.
- An Insider's Guide to TJ's
- Slate. March 2006.
- Trader Joe's Growing Cult
- The Voice of San Diego. December 2005.
- Shopper's Special
- Workforce Magazine. Sept. 2004.
- Trendy American Cousin
- Business Week. April 2004.
- #1 Leading Listener
- TJ's is ranked #1 for listening to its constomers. Fast Company. October 2004.
Fun Facts About Trader Joe's
- The founder's name is really "Joe" - Joe Coulombe
- Founder Joe Coulombe quit the business in 1989, and is now on the board of directors at Cost Plus World Market
- Currently about 254 stores
- According to the Food Institute, Trader Joe's stores sales are about $1,132 per square foot, twice that of normal supermarkets
- From 1990-2001, the number of Trader Joe's stores has quintupled, and profits have increased tenfold
- Trader Joe's is now owned by two Germans -- Karl and Theo Albrecht -- who started Aldi stores in eleven countries (and growing fast in the US)
- Trader Joe's employees are non-union but they earn above-union wages
- Trader Joe's has promised that foods with their own label will never include genetically modified ingredients
- Employee receive a 10% store discount and Trader Joe's contributes 15.4% of each employee's gross pay into a retirement plan
TJ Shirts
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My Current Favorite
The Best 60-Second Microwavable Dessert Around
Chudleigh's Apple BlossomsButtery dough surrounding yummy apples (not sickly sweet, either) make these very addictive. Just microwave for one minute and they come out perfect. Great with ice cream!
Find them in the frozen section.
Carry Your TJ's Lunch in Style!
Want to see the coolest array of lunch bags and totes? Check out my lens and ditch the brown bag!Browse through all the hi-tech, fashionable and cute bags for all ages, tastes and appetites.
Lunch Bags and Totes: Funky, Chic or Practical
Attention Tea Lovers!
- Tea Ware Showcase
- Click the link above to go to my Tea Ware Showcase -- everything for the tea lover (except the tea). You'll find mugs, steepers, timers, canisters, teapots and gadgets you didn't even know existed!
Links about Two Buck Chuck ("2BC")
- Wine for Tightwads
- Slate. March 2006.
- Court Case About 2BC
- Court denies Two Buck Chuck a "Napa" label.
- 2BC Snags Top Wine Prize
- NPR (audio too). June 2004.
- 2BC Wine Cult
- CBS News. June 2003.
- 2BC Helps Drain Wine Tanks' Overflow
- Western Farm Press. February 2003.
Move over, Two-Buck Chuck!
Trader Joe's now offers a line of Cameron Hughes wines nicknamed "Ten-Clam Cam." Check it out at your local store. TJ's Gifts on Ebay
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byPrepare Your TJ's Produce With These Cool Tools!
Microplane Grater/Zester
Get more flavor from your food. Excellent for hard cheeses, onions, citrus fruits, ginger and more. High-quality stainless steel.
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Amazon Price: $11.95 (as of 12/15/2009)
Oxo Good Grips Mango Splitter
For mangoes! One simple press removes the seed and cuts the fruit in half. It slices cleanly through the fruit and leaves almost nothing behind on the seed.
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Amazon Price: $11.95 (as of 12/15/2009)
Oxo Good Grips Apple Corer and Divider
Everyone needs an apple corer, and OXO makes great products.
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Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 12/15/2009)
Vacu Vin Pineapple Easy Slicer
Winner of several international design awards. To use, cut the top off of your pineapple. Then place the slicer in the middle of the pineapple and push down while turning the handle in a clockwise motion. Pull the slicer straight out of the pineapple and--voila!--your perfect little rings come out with the tool while the rough shell stays behind. Takes only 30 seconds. Shell remains intact for use as dessert or drink bowl.
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Amazon Price: $13.19 (as of 12/15/2009)
Modern Gadgetry
Polder 898-90 Clock, Timer & Stopwatch, White
It's a timer! No, it's a necklace! What a merger. This way, you don't have to go running to the kitchen when it goes off -- unlike that dang-blasted stove timer.
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Amazon Price: $11.75 (as of 12/15/2009)
Rösle Can Opener
Brilliantly designed. Doesn't leave sharp edges.
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Amazon Price: $36.95 (as of 12/15/2009)
iSi K8611 Silicone "Squid" Brush and Baster, Blue
Brush and baster all in one! Heat-resistant up to 600 degrees. Dishwasher safe. And it looks like a squid!
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OXO Grind-It 1056265 Organic Flax Seed Grinder
Per the Flax Council of Canada, "Ground flax seed provides more nutritional benefits than does whole seed. If whole flax seeds remain unbroken, they may pass undigested through the body, reducing the nutritional advantage of eating flax seed in the first place. "
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Cuisinart CSB-33BC Quick Prep Hand Blender, Brushed Chrome
Great for mixing protein drinks!
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More Cool Stuff
Progressive International Herb Pro
$12.59. Can strip leaves from stems -- cilantro made easy! Snips herbs into its own storage container.
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Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 12/15/2009)
Chef'n Switchit Dual-Ended Long Spatula, Sky
Silicone, so you can use in a fry pan. And two different ends for different scraping situations.
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SiliconeZone Large Pastry/Baking Mat
Instead of consuming rolls of aluminum foil or parchment paper, you lay everything out on these reusable durable mats, and bake; the nicely browned goods slide off with no effort and no added grease. Less burn on the bottom, too.
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Sil-Pin Silicone Rolling Pin with Zinc Handles, Red
Dough won't stick -- and it looks cool too! 12 inches long.
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Oxo Good Grips 2-Cup Angled Measuring Cup
Angled design lets you see amounts from above -- which is always where you seem to be standing!
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Amazon Price: $8.95 (as of 12/15/2009)
For Wine Lovers
WMF Captain's Glass Wine Decanter
Captain's Glass? Trader Joe's Wine? It's a marriage made in heaven. This flask widens from a narrow neck to a 9-inch base, creating plenty of surface area for wines to breathe better.
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Amazon Price: $39.90 (as of 12/15/2009)
Jubilee Acrylic Embossed Grape Iceless Wine Cooler
Ingenious! Keeps wine or champagne at serving temp for up to 3 hours -- with no ice! The double-wall design creates a cold pocket of air to insulate the bottle. Shatterproof.
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Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 12/15/2009)
Pulltap Double hinged Waiter Style Corkscrew - Black
Use a quality corkscrew, just like the waiters do!
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Amazon Price: $4.24 (as of 12/15/2009)
Vacu Vin Winemaster Corkscrew, Black
2- year warranty. Foil cutter stores in the top.
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Prodyne WP-2 Wine Pourer and Stopper, Set of 2
Air-tight, leak proof seals.
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Amazon Price: $16.64 (as of 12/15/2009)
Vacu Vin 3-Piece Wine Saver Pump and Stopper Gift Pack, White
Keeps open wine fresh for two weeks. Make your 2 Buck Chuck last!
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Amazon Price: $14.92 (as of 12/15/2009)
Champagne Saver & Pourer
Champagne stays bubbly for days!
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Amazon Price: $11.99 (as of 12/15/2009)
Crazy for Silicone?
- Silicone Valley -- Cool Rubbery Kitchenware
- Check out my other lens devoted exclusively to silicone kitchen stuff.
Book about Trader Joe's
The Trader Joe's Adventure: Turning a Unique Approach to Business into a Retail and Cultural Phenomenon
Unfortunately, not highly rated.
Release Date: 09/01/2005
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Do You Love TJ's Too?
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Reply
- rwoman rwoman Mar 18, 2008 @ 4:06 pm
- Great lens!
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Reply
- PaSusan PaSusan Feb 2, 2008 @ 2:43 pm
- I love TJ'S...
The nearest TJ'S is 1 1/2 hours away.
I need a Traders Joes in Tannersville, Pennsylvania.
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Reply
- minky minky Oct 9, 2007 @ 3:13 am
- Great lens and interesting content.
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Reply
- Evelyn_Saenz Evelyn_Saenz Oct 3, 2007 @ 6:38 pm
- I MISS Trader Joe's. :( When are they coming down to Miami?
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Reply
- VegeDeb VegeDeb Sep 29, 2007 @ 1:28 pm
- TJ's and I "met" in the '80s in Southern California.
Now my nearest TJ's is about two hours away in the Chicago area and I still manage to shop there about once a month - I can spend more $$ in less time there than in any other grocery store!
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by nancoix
Check out my 30 other lenses. Most are about birding, but also about iPods, kitchen stuff and Trader Joe's.
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