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Trader Joe's

Trader Joe's is my go-to grocery store. The combination of unique products, reasonable prices, and Hawaiian shirt-wearing crew members makes every trip enjoyable.

Overview

• Founded — 1967 in Pasadena, California by Joe Coulombe
• Utah Locations — Salt Lake City, Cottonwood Heights, Sandy, Draper
• Known For — Private label products, Two-Buck Chuck, Hawaiian shirts
• Parent Company — Aldi Nord (German)

Why I Love It

• Unique Products — Everything in the store is a Trader Joe's product, curated for quality
• Price — Consistently lower than most grocery stores, especially for specialty items
• No Sales or Coupons — What you see is the price, no games
• Sample Station — Free coffee and food samples (when available)
• Crew Members — Genuinely friendly staff, always willing to help
• The Fearless Flyer — Their newsletter is actually fun to read

Favorite Products

• Everything But The Bagel Seasoning — Goes on everything
• Mandarin Orange Chicken — Frozen aisle classic
• Cauliflower Gnocchi — Healthier alternative, surprisingly good
• Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups — Better than Reese's
• Unexpected Cheddar — The best cheese in the store
• Cookie Butter — Dangerously addictive spread
• Frozen Indian Food — Tikka Masala, Palak Paneer, all great
• Sparkling Water — Way cheaper than La Croix

The Business Model

Trader Joe's keeps prices low by stocking fewer products (around 4,000 vs 30,000+ at typical grocery stores), selling mostly private label, and avoiding costly promotional schemes. They also don't do self-checkout or online ordering—keeping things simple.

The company is known for treating employees well, paying above-average wages with good benefits. Crew members are cross-trained and genuinely seem to enjoy working there.