The store has cultivated a broad customer base with its low prices, unique offerings, and charming store features. For the health-conscious, Trader Joe's offers a plethora of natural and organic products. For the bargain shopper, the store's low prices are especially appealing.
On top of that, the store's eco-friendly policies have the dual effect of being more sustainable and lowering costs for shoppers. We're also fans of the store, placing it above Whole Foods in a head-to-head review. Read more: We shopped at both Whole Foods and Trader Joe's, and the Amazon-owned chain was disappointing in comparison.
The first Trader Joe's opened in Now with stores across the US, the nautical-themed grocery store has managed to preserve that small-chain feel while inching its way into the hearts of shoppers across the country. Historically, the chain also has one of the best sales per square footage in the grocery industry and fans around the country delight in sharing their favorite food items and tips for shopping at the store.
Locations in big cities like New York routinely have lines out the door at peak shopping times. We visited a Manhattan Trader Joe's to check out the hype for ourselves.
From its eco-friendly policies to store theme, we found seven main reasons that people across the board love Trader Joe's. Source: Club Trader Joe's. Source: Business Insider. For you. Julia Hatmaker jhatmaker pennlive. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. All rights reserved About Us. However, since the pandemic hit, the company has implemented social distancing and safety procedures to help eliminate overcrowding in-stores that used to result in packed checkout lines and long wait times.
Unlike most supermarkets that use intercoms to summon assistance, Trader Joe's has a bell system. In keeping with its kitschy maritime theme remember the plastic lobsters? One ring lets employees know that another cash register needs to be opened. Two rings mean there are additional questions that need to be answered at the checkout area.
Three rings signal that a manager is needed for further assistance. While this system may be a bit odd, shoppers seem to like the chain's eccentricities. Trader Joe's was among three retailers to rank first in customer satisfaction among supermarket shoppers , according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index Retail and Consumer Shipping Report. While offering customers quality products is a top priority for Trader Joe's, so is giving back to the community. Each store has a donation coordinator who is responsible for working with local food banks and soup kitchens to arrange daily donations.
The company even donates non-food items such as fresh flowers and health and beauty products still in good condition. In , the grocer began replacing the plastic and styrofoam containers on items including produce, meats and greeting cards with renewable and plant-based alternatives. Their product marketing team has worked to replace the plastic sleeves on their greeting cards with a plant-based starch version to help keep them in pristine condition.
The new card sleeve is biodegradable, and shoppers can compost it at home. Earlier this year, the grocer announced that it had removed about 6 million pounds of plastic from its product packaging. This included getting rid of plastic bags at the checkout register and replacing plastic and foil pouches on their tea packages with compostable film. While the grocer regularly releases new products, many customers only randomly stumble upon them.
The page gets updated several times per week. A few of the recent posts include walnut pesto, herbed tahini sauce and strawberry non-fat oat frozen dessert. If you have a food allergy or adhere to a strict diet, shopping at a traditional grocery store can be problematic.
All are clearly labeled. It has been criticized for using too much packaging , a claim the grocer has been taking steps to address since In , for example, it removed 6 million pounds of plastic by eliminating or replacing packaging on more than 40 produce items and by eliminating the plastic rings from its six-packs of beer.
And starkly at odds with its cheerful image, in recent years some Trader Joe's employees have complained of harsh treatment by mangers, and of a culture of surveillance and safety lapses, The New York Times reported in Trader Joe's did not respond to request for further comment. The demand for Trader Joe's stores does seem to outpace the supply, hence the long waits at checkout.
But it's actually another Trader Joe's secret to success, says Yohn. For a grocer that depends on its vibe, "growing only as much as they can afford to, to be able to hire great people" is wise, she says. As for the parking, "many Trader Joe's locations are decades old, and their parking lots need to be redesigned for the traffic of modern life," Morgan says. In fact, the first Trader Joe's, which opened in in Pasadena, California, still has its original parking lot.
This story has been updated to include the controversy over the branding on some of Trader Joe's ethnic food products. Ex-Apple exec Guy Kawasaki: I want a product that will make me 'wait like a fool outside an Apple store'. Like this story? Skip Navigation. Jennifer Liu.
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