Trader Joe's

Trader Joe's is a grocery store chain known for selling almost exclusively private label products. It has a casual, Hawaiian-style atmosphere and focuses on quality, low cost products by refusing to have sales and cutting out the middleman whenever possible. Since it doesn't offer as large or complete of a selection as regular grocery stores, some shoppers find it difficult to cross everything off their lists by visiting Trader Joe's, but that hasn't stopped people clamoring for one to open in their area. Trader Joe's will only open stores in rapidly-growing urban and suburban areas with a required average income.http://www.jordansilberman.com/m3maps/portfolio/trader_joes_1.htm

Trader Joe's is customer-driven, so the product mix is different as tastes change. The store is known for its selection of ready-to-go foods such as wraps and salads; cheeses from around the world; unique coffees that are fresh because they sell rapidly. They are also know for frozen items like matchstick green beans, stuffed flounder and meats. In addition to common grocery foods they also have a wide selection of wines in many price ranges, and also a small selection of personal and pet care items.

Trader Joe's was one of the first chains to ban rBGH in milk items; tries not to carry items made with GMOs; and tends to carry items with a minimal amount of preservatives and other chemicals. Brochures on various nutritional information such as gluten-free and soy-free items are available near the Tasting Station. In April 2010, for example, Trader Joe's began carrying a private-label soda manufactured for them by Reed's, Inc.http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20100407005690&newsLang=en

Trader Joe's carries a blend of private-label items made by major gourmet manufacturers under such labels as "Trader Giotto's" for Italian foods and "Trader Jose's" for salsas. These offerings are side by side with major labels at reduced prices. Trader Joe's is able to do this by buying a large quantity of the manufacturer's production for a period of time, and then either self-labeling it or selling it on-label. Buying in bulk allows the company to keep prices much lower than in comparable gourmet, health food, or even average supermarkets. In Trader Joe's early days when it was still located in gas stations, companies did not want their labels at Trader Joe's, but now that the company has a national reputation the situation is reversed. The staff chooses products based on taste and quality, so for a manufacturer to have its product chosen is desirable.

While Trader Joe's does not routinely issue coupons or run sales, it does offer special promotions on new products, or special purchase items. These products are generally advertised in Trader Joe's Fearless Flyer, which also highlights seasonal items that the store is promoting. You can register to receive the flyer at the checkout register or online. Also it is available at the store itself, usually at the checkouts, entrance and Tasting Station.http://www.traderjoes.com/soapbox.aspThe Fearless Flyer usually has sample menus using Flyer products, as well as recipes. The Flyer's style uses vintage illustrations of the 1800s combined with humorous cartoon speech bubbles.

Trader Joe's is unique among grocery stores in allowing customers to sample products in the store at both a "tasting station" and from any employee. The Tasting Station features a recipe made from 1-3 products, as well as hot or cold drinks by season. Customers can also ask employees to open a product to taste, then hand out samples to nearby customers. Customers can return purchases even after they've been opened, just as if they'd been sampled in the store.