We're getting a Trader Joe's soon

[1GirlTwinBoys]

What are they like? We already have a Whole Foods market so I was wondering how they compare.

[MSNative]

What are they like? We already have a Whole Foods market so I was wondering how they compare.

 

You are so lucky!! TJ is much smaller and also cheaper than WF. One thing WF has that TJ doesn't - bulk food section. Love TJ for their fun ads, great produce, fantastic fun sauces and spices. It's like the best of WF but at a price you can actually afford.

[Jennifer in MI]

We got a TJs a couple years ago. I CRIED when I found out it was coming - I was SO happy!!! We don't have Whole Foods nearby, but I've been to a couple. I found them terribly expensive!

 

At TJs you'll find a LOT of organic veggies and fruits at fair prices. (3 heads of organic romaine lettuce - $2.49. 3 pounds organic pink lady apples - $2.49. Organic carrots - 69cents/pound! Frozen Organic broccoli florets - 1 pound - $2.39) You'll also find non-organic items and they are CHEAP!! You'll find GREAT coffees and teas. AWESOME cheeses. GREAT wines and beer (I didn't know I liked beer until I tried some of their stuff). Their nut section is to DIE for! You'll also find some pre-packaged foods, but I usually stay away from those because they usually only feed 3 −4 people and it'd be too expensive to feed my family from that.

 

For the most part, the food is free of HFCS and fake sugars.

 

I do ALL of my grocery shopping at TJs!!!!

[abbeyej]

Definitely cheaper than WF. Limited selection. For instance, TJ's carries their own brand of organic ketchup in one size. Take it or leave it. They have skim, 2%, and whole milk, each in conventional and organic, but only their own "brand" (which, in our case at least, all comes from local dairies). There are several varieties of *some* things, but the selection is a lot more limited than most American grocery stores.

 

The bread at my local TJ's is *much* better than the bread available at my Whole Foods. I find that bizarre!

 

As the PP said, bulk food is one place where TJ's doesn't offer as much. I have to go elsewhere to stock up on dry beans, for instance (though I buy my rice at TJ's, since they have great brown basmati and wild rice, etc).

 

Fabulous frozen desserts. Some great frozen-prepared ethnic dishes that are worth keeping on hand for emergencies.

 

What I think I love best about TJ's is the atmosphere though. They hire friendly, intelligent, generally well-educated workers and treat them well / keep them happy. They'll bend over backwards for customers, take good care of children, and generally make shopping there a pleasant experience.

 

I find my totals there run about 30% less than shopping at Whole Foods for similar items...

[milovany]

We're getting a Trader Joe's soon

 

Thou shalt not covet, thou shalt not covet, thou shall not covet ....

[Frontier Mom]

Just got to say, the Orange Chicken in the frozen section is to die for!! My dcs beg to go there just so I will get these. We have ours with their fried rice!! Delicious and easy. Not real low cal mind you.

 

TJs is great. I love their salsa, coffee, nuts, teas and veggy/fruit selections. The prices are actually affordable. I also get frozen fruits there including berries and mango/pineapple blend for smoothies.

 

Lucky ducky. Mine is about 1 hour away but close to our homeschool coop. I try to combine the two.

[Annie]

Thou shalt not covet, thou shalt not covet, thou shall not covet ....

 

:iagree: Oh, how I miss my Trader Joe's...

 

 

They were started by the Aldi's people. Lower prices but less variety than WF.

[Ravin]

Our main staple there is sunflower seed butter. Nowhere else around here you can get it, and it's the best peanut butter substitute I've found.

 

We also love Jo-Jo's, and the frozen fruits and veggies, and their pizza dough.

[Jennifer in MI]

Our main staple there is sunflower seed butter. Nowhere else around here you can get it, and it's the best peanut butter substitute I've found.

 

We also love Jo-Jo's, and the frozen fruits and veggies, and their pizza dough.

 

Oh yes!! Jojos!!!! And, at Christmas they have the candy cane ones. Yum!!!

[Punchie]

Their peanut butter is the best. Before we got a TJs here, I had my parents send care packages of non-perishable TJs goods. *sigh* We're moving soon, and I'll be once again in a TJ-empty zone (really...they have one in Lincoln, NE but NOT Buffalo, NY? Really??). I will stock up on the non-perishables and then move them w/us halfway across the continent.

[HSDCY]

I am another fan of Trader Joe's.

 

Items I love:

Avocados, good price, good quality

Pistachios and other nuts, very fresh, good price

Dried fruit, good selections, good price

Marinara sauce, the best I've used, good price

Coffee, I think it's the best coffee, drink it black or add just a bit of milk, even my 11-year-old agrees that Trader Joe's coffee is the best (and he takes it with no sugar added)

[milovany]

Oh, how I miss my Trader Joe's...

 

 

:iagree:

 

Our closest TJs is 90 minutes from here (it's over in the Seattle area); we're over the Cascades away from all that suburbia. I've begged and cried and pleaded when we do go there for them to bring one to our town, but alas they say one of the ways they keep prices low is to keep their trucking routes nice and tight. They won't go so far "out of the way" as it will carry with it a higher freight cost, which would increase the price of the food. (I didn't really beg and cry and plead, but wanted to!)

 

Drat.

[abbeyej]

Our main staple there is sunflower seed butter. Nowhere else around here you can get it, and it's the best peanut butter substitute I've found.

 

Yep, I can find sunflower butter elsewhere -- but it's 1/2 the price at TJ's and better than some of the other brands we've tried.

[MSNative]

:iagree:

 

Our closest TJs is 90 minutes from here (it's over in the Seattle area); we're over the Cascades away from all that suburbia. I've begged and cried and pleaded when we do go there for them to bring one to our town, but alas they say one of the ways they keep prices low is to keep their trucking routes nice and tight. They won't go so far "out of the way" as it will carry with it a higher freight cost, which would increase the price of the food. (I didn't really beg and cry and plead, but wanted to!)

 

Drat.

 

I think there is a lot that they must have to get right before they open. I read their statement about population and had heard about the trucking issue. However, I live in a city that sits on the crossroads of two major highways - one NS, one EW. They still aren't here. There are 4 near my mother in Atlanta though. Oh and she does taunt me with her Costco and her TJ. (OK, actually she doesn't, she just offers to get me stuff.) Speaking of which - TJ lemon sparkling water!! I buy them out of every last case they have when we go there. Love their pb filled pretzels, too. sigh.

[Annie]

:iagree:

 

Our closest TJs is 90 minutes from here (it's over in the Seattle area); we're over the Cascades away from all that suburbia. I've begged and cried and pleaded when we do go there for them to bring one to our town, but alas they say one of the ways they keep prices low is to keep their trucking routes nice and tight. They won't go so far "out of the way" as it will carry with it a higher freight cost, which would increase the price of the food. (I didn't really beg and cry and plead, but wanted to!)

 

Drat.

 

Don't ask how many friendly automated requests I've submitted on their website. ;)

[LibraryLover]

I enjoy TJ for some things, but know they do not disclose where some of their food is from. Know that some of the organics are probably from places where the standards can be flubbed. (China, for one. TJ's is giant chain...it's the European Walmart of 'funky-hippie' food).

[milovany]

Don't ask how many friendly automated requests I've submitted on their website. ;)

 

Oh! They have that? Cool! I'll have to go see about the friendly automated request. :001_smile:

[Belacqua]

Their peanut butter is the best. Before we got a TJs here, I had my parents send care packages of non-perishable TJs goods. *sigh* We're moving soon, and I'll be once again in a TJ-empty zone (really...they have one in Lincoln, NE but NOT Buffalo, NY? Really??). I will stock up on the non-perishables and then move them w/us halfway across the continent.

 

Buffalo has a Wegman's, though, right? That's a magnificent grocery store.

 

As for Trader Joe's...they have Grade B maple syrup! I can't find that anywhere else (except online/catalog, and shipping is a bear). Their baking cocoa is quite good, too. I'm cheating on Penzey's Spices with TJ.

 

And I'm trying to eat more healthily, so I shouldn't even acknowledge these exist, but TJs has these frozen feta-caramelized onion pastry things that could make you weep.

[LibraryLover]

Some may be interested:

 

 

http://www.grist.org/article/food-this-Labor-Day-will-Trader-Joes-finally-do-right-by-farmworkers

 

http://www.utne.com/Environment/The-EcoMyth-of-Trader-Joes.aspx

 

http://thefastertimes.com/genericfoodsinvestigation/2010/05/15/trader-joes-revealed-the-tft-reader-investigation-continues

 

http://brandautopsy.typepad.com/brandautopsy/2007/06/trader_joes_the_1.html

 

http://www.trackingtraderjoes.com/2005/09/how_does_trader.html

Edited February 8, 2011 by LibraryLover

[nukeswife]

I've never been to a Whole Foods, but from what I've seen TJ's has much smaller stores. The selection at TJs is pretty limited, but I only go to our TJs for a few items. My kids favorite pizza sauce for homemade is from TJs. I also love their 100 cal pack oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. I'm not in it for the organic/environmental aspect some might be. I'm in it for the things I simply can't get at other places. None of the pizza sauces we've tried from the local groceries taste as good. I have been thinking of making my own, but I have no idea what to put in it or how to make it taste like TJs.

[jenL]

All I have to say is YOU ARE SO LUCKY! Trader Joe's is awesome!!!!!

[Spy Car]

Some may be interested:

 

http://www.trackingtraderjoes.com/2005/09/how_does_trader.html

 

I've only looked at the last link, bit is all wrong when they say:

 

"It [Trader Joes ]doesn't sell much if any low-margin stuff like flour, eggs, regular milk, bagels, or white rice."

 

Trader Joes does sell flour, intact it is King Arthur flour. They also sell eggs at the lowest prices around and in many versions from conventional white, to free range to organic. They also sell milk in non-fat, 1%, 2% and whole in conventional (no BGH) and organic versions at low prices. They also have rice, but it is not a great value. Bagels are the one item ours does not sell, but they do have a huge bread selection.

 

Bill

[Ravin]

Yep, I can find sunflower butter elsewhere -- but it's 1/2 the price at TJ's and better than some of the other brands we've tried.

 

I can't find it elsewhere, unless I go online. WF, Sunflower Market, Sprouts...none of them carry it. And TJ's peanut butter is the best deal for natural, too, though I haven't bought that in a while thanks to WIC.

 

(China, for one. TJ's is giant chain...it's the European Walmart of 'funky-hippie' food).

 

But Walmart is the walmart of funky-hippie food nowadays. Seriously. Though you probably do have a point...I used to shop at TJ's a lot, back when I had a much bigger grocery budget and DD couldn't have eggs. Now it's the occasional trip for SF butter and a few treats. Also their annual Yule Ale is awesome...I like wierd/funky microbrews. Haven't had much call to buy such things in the last year, though. :tongue_smilie:

[LibraryLover]

 

But Walmart is the walmart of funky-hippie food nowadays. Seriously.

. :tongue_smilie:

 

 

Walmart here is dsgusting, and I loathe going there.

 

Master manipulators. Cute packaging doesn't sway me.

Edited February 8, 2011 by LibraryLover

[LibraryLover]

I have no idea. I don't know what store they're talking about. The stores vary in size, quality, and items. I assume what they carry depends where they are located. I have seen tiny TJ's stores, and I have seen giant ones. TJ's doesn't reveal where they get much of their food, so we may or may not be getting what they advertize. Thre is no 3rd party involved, fi, to check whether those eggs are free range, or whether the milk is rBST -free. It's too bad, because they have great prices. I wish they would be upfront, because then I could shop there without a heavy heart.

 

I've only looked at the last link, bit is all wrong when they say:

 

"It [Trader Joes ]doesn't sell much if any low-margin stuff like flour, eggs, regular milk, bagels, or white rice."

 

Trader Joes does sell flour, intact it is King Arthur flour. They also sell eggs at the lowest prices around and in many versions from conventional white, to free range to organic. They also sell milk in non-fat, 1%, 2% and whole in conventional (no BGH) and organic versions at low prices. They also have rice, but it is not a great value. Bagels are the one item ours does not sell, but they do have a huge bread selection.

 

Bill

Edited February 8, 2011 by LibraryLover

[Spy Car]

I have no idea. I don't know what store they're talking about. They vary in size, quality, and items. I assume what they carry depends where they are located. I have seen tiny TJ's and I have seen giant ones.

 

I've shopped at Trader Joes practically my whole life. One of their first stores was locate near my home and they have since proliferated. I've never seen a TJs yet that did not carry milk, eggs, bread, or flour. Not ever.

 

They will cut some items when they can't get a good price or they don't sell (and at times this is at my annoyance when favorite items disappear forever) but they have always had the aforementioned staples.

 

Bill

[LibraryLover]

OK I'm not concerned about how much bread TJs does or not sell. I got no dog is this discussion. I've seen big stores and I've seen little ones. Whatever. :)

 

I've shopped at Trader Joes practically my whole life. One of their first stores was locate near my home and they have since proliferated. I've never seen a TJs yet that did not carry milk, eggs, bread, or flour. Not ever.

 

They will cut some items when they can't get a good price or they don't sell (and at times this is at my annoyance when favorite items disappear forever) but they have always had the aforementioned staples.

 

Bill

Edited February 9, 2011 by LibraryLover

[annlaura]

I don't know if this is common for TJs or not, but my favorite aspect is the little kid shopping carts. They really just tickle me. DS4 loves them, of course. And I've just recently made him his own shopping list of index cards with little photos that I write quantities on. Then he does the shopping himself. :) He is so proud of himself. We really like the fruit or vanilla & cream yogurt, lime sparkling water, and the fish. DS4 loves fish,, so I let him pick. We've always been pleased with the quality. I don't do all our shopping there by any means, but we are going more regularly now for the experience for DS4.

 

BTW, I haven't looked lately, but I've bought sunflower seed butter at Target more than once.

[alpidarkomama]

Oh, how I miss my Trader Joe's...

 

Oh, me too..... :( WF and TJ are completely different. TJ is fun and cheap. I used to go to TJ 2x/month, and I rarely went to WF. :)

[Jilly]

I've only looked at the last link, bit is all wrong when they say:

 

"It [Trader Joes ]doesn't sell much if any low-margin stuff like flour, eggs, regular milk, bagels, or white rice."

 

Trader Joes does sell flour, intact it is King Arthur flour. They also sell eggs at the lowest prices around and in many versions from conventional white, to free range to organic. They also sell milk in non-fat, 1%, 2% and whole in conventional (no BGH) and organic versions at low prices. They also have rice, but it is not a great value. Bagels are the one item ours does not sell, but they do have a huge bread selection.

 

Bill

:iagree:

 

The one by my house also carries bagels. :001_smile:

[anabelneri]

My little story that I tell about TJs is from when we were on a tight budget. We had a certain amount of money to buy the week's groceries, and that was it. I didn't even go to WF at the time -- there was no point. We were doing our shopping at Safeway, which is our local "normal" grocery store.

 

So each week for months I would go in and buy the food we absolutely needed for meals each week. Fruit was always at the end of the list -- if we had any money to spare, we could get fruit. Month after month went by with no fruit in the house. Sometimes I'd be able to buy an apple, which my toddler would delightedly enjoy. Such a treat!

 

One week we didn't have time to get to Safeway, but we were by TJ's and needed groceries. I had my usual list, and we went in and picked it all out, carefully totaling all the prices as we went. And that day I went home with something like 4 apples and a bunch of bananas! I couldn't believe it. I went the next week, and again came home with fruit! And again the next week!

 

So we love TJs and do our shopping there. We love their hummus, their cheeses, their little organic tomatoes, their multi-colored pasta, their yogurt, their frozen pizza, and especially their free samples!

 

The issues with the workers is concerning... I'll be interested to look into it more. But I will say that they were willing to check on their chocolate supplier for me when I wanted to be sure that it wasn't Nestle. It's been a while since then, I should probably check again, but I appreciated that they were willing to do it.

 

:)

[Punchie]

Buffalo has a Wegman's, though, right? That's a magnificent grocery store.

 

There are Wegman's up there, thankfully. So I won't be completely w/o a good grocery store.

 

I don't quite get there there is supposedly diversity between TJs? I've been to them in CA, AZ, NJ, OR, and NE and they are all pretty much the same minus one or two non-staple items. They look the same, they are laid out the same...

[meet me in paris]

My little story that I tell about TJs is from when we were on a tight budget. We had a certain amount of money to buy the week's groceries, and that was it. I didn't even go to WF at the time -- there was no point. We were doing our shopping at Safeway, which is our local "normal" grocery store.

 

So each week for months I would go in and buy the food we absolutely needed for meals each week. Fruit was always at the end of the list -- if we had any money to spare, we could get fruit. Month after month went by with no fruit in the house. Sometimes I'd be able to buy an apple, which my toddler would delightedly enjoy. Such a treat!

 

One week we didn't have time to get to Safeway, but we were by TJ's and needed groceries. I had my usual list, and we went in and picked it all out, carefully totaling all the prices as we went. And that day I went home with something like 4 apples and a bunch of bananas! I couldn't believe it. I went the next week, and again came home with fruit! And again the next week!

 

 

 

so true!! We're on a tight grocery budget, and I feel I get excellent deals at TJ. Plus, my daughter can't have food dyes, and I know that anything I buy there will be dye-free. :)

[BlsdMama]

Very excited to move here to see WF and TJ in real life. :)

 

In the end, not so impressed. Now, Costco impressed me - both with organic selection, produce, and prices. I will say TJ was better than WF. But anytime you walk into a health conscious store and find two aisles of cereal and two aisles of wine in a small store, it leaves me utterly confused.