Trader Joe's: Difference between revisions
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== Products == |
== Products == |
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Trader Joe's describes itself as "your neighborhood" or "your unique grocery store". Products sold include [[gourmet]] foods, [[organic food]]s, [[vegetarianism|vegetarian food]], unusual [[frozen food]]s, imported foods, domestic and imported [[wine]] (where local law permits), "alternative" food items, and basics like bread, cereal, eggs, dairy, coffee and produce. Non-food items include personal [[hygiene]] products, household cleaners, vitamins, pet food, plants, and flowers. |
Trader Joe's describes itself as "your neighborhood" or "your unique grocery store". Products sold include [[gourmet]] foods, [[organic food]]s, [[vegetarianism|vegetarian food]], unusual [[frozen food]]s, imported foods, domestic and imported [[wine]] and [[beer]] (where local law permits), "alternative" food items, and basics like bread, cereal, eggs, dairy, coffee and produce. Non-food items include personal [[hygiene]] products, household cleaners, vitamins, pet food, plants, and flowers. |
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[[Image:Trader Joes Union Square by David Shankbone.JPG|thumb|left|Interior of the [[Union Square, Manhattan]] store.]] |
[[Image:Trader Joes Union Square by David Shankbone.JPG|thumb|left|Interior of the [[Union Square, Manhattan]] store.]] |
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Many of the company's products are [[environmentally friendly]].<ref name=German>[http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1091106,00.html The American Way of Aldi], [[Deutsche Welle]], January 16, 2004.</ref> In October 2007, Trader Joe's began to phase out foods imported from China amid concerns that standards on "organic" products from the country aren't as stringent as they should be.<ref>[http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/612152,CST-NWS-CHINA20.article Chicago Sun Times], October 20, 2007 </ref> |
Many of the company's products are [[environmentally friendly]].<ref name=German>[http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1091106,00.html The American Way of Aldi], [[Deutsche Welle]], January 16, 2004.</ref> In October 2007, Trader Joe's began to phase out foods imported from China amid concerns that standards on "organic" products from the country aren't as stringent as they should be.<ref>[http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/612152,CST-NWS-CHINA20.article Chicago Sun Times], October 20, 2007 </ref> |
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Revision as of 09:15, 10 April 2009
| File:Trader Joes.png | |
| Company type | Private equity |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1958 Greater Los Angeles Area |
| Headquarters | Monrovia, California |
Key people | Joe Coulombe, Founder Dan Bane, Chairman & CEO |
| Products | Supermarket |
| Revenue | $7.2 billion (2008)[1] |
| Website | www.traderjoes.com |
Trader Joe's is a privately held chain of specialty grocery stores headquartered in Monrovia, California. As of March 2009[update], Trader Joe's has a total of 319 stores.[2] Its stores are located most densely in Southern California, but the grocery company has locations in 24 other states and Washington, D.C. Trader Joe's was founded by Joe Coulombe and is currently owned by a family trust set up by German billionaire Theo Albrecht, one of the two brothers behind the German supermarket chain Aldi.[3]
History
Trader Joe's is named for its founder, Joe Coulombe. The chain began in 1958 as a Greater Los Angeles area chain of "Pronto Market" convenience stores. The original Pronto Markets were similar to 7-Eleven stores, so similar that Coulombe felt that the competition with 7-Eleven would be ruinious.[4] He is said to have developed the idea of the Trader Joe South Seas motif while on vacation in the Caribbean.[5] He had noticed that Americans were traveling more and returning home with tastes for food and wine they had trouble satisfying in supermarkets of the time.[6] The first store named "Trader Joe's" opened its doors in Pasadena, California in 1966. This store, on Arroyo Parkway, is still in operation. In response to strong competition from 7-Eleven, the chain differentiated its stores' offerings and doubled the floor space in 1967. In the first few decades of operation, some of the stores offered fresh meats provided by butchers who leased space in the stores. Trader Joe's at one time had sandwich shops, freshly cut cheese, and fresh squeezed orange juice. Theo Albrecht bought the company in 1979.[7] Coulombe was succeeded by John Shields in 1989. Shields retired in 2001, turning the reins over to Dan Bane. Shields still does consulting for the company.
A Business Week article about the store noted that, between 1990 and 2001, the chain quintupled the store number and increased its profits by ten times.[3] Supermarket News estimates that Trader Joe's total sales for 2008 was $7.2 billion, which gave it a ranking of No. 23 on the list of "SN's Top 75 Retailers for 2009."[1] The May 2009 issue of Consumer Reports ranked Trader Joe's the second-best supermarket chain in the nation, after Wegmans. [8]
Products
Trader Joe's describes itself as "your neighborhood" or "your unique grocery store". Products sold include gourmet foods, organic foods, vegetarian food, unusual frozen foods, imported foods, domestic and imported wine and beer (where local law permits), "alternative" food items, and basics like bread, cereal, eggs, dairy, coffee and produce. Non-food items include personal hygiene products, household cleaners, vitamins, pet food, plants, and flowers.
Many of the company's products are environmentally friendly.[9] In October 2007, Trader Joe's began to phase out foods imported from China amid concerns that standards on "organic" products from the country aren't as stringent as they should be.[10]
Trader Joe's sells many items from any of several of its own private labels. Such labels are quirkily named in accordance to the ethnicity of the food in question, such as Trader Jose's (Mexican food), Trader Ming's (Asian food), Baker Josef's (bagels), Trader Giotto's (Italian food), Trader Joe-San (Japanese food), Arabian Joe's (Middle Eastern food), JosephBrau (beer), Trader Johann's (lip balm), Trader Jacque's (imported French soaps), Joe's Diner (certain frozen entrees), Joe's Kids (children's food), and Trader Darwin's (vitamins). By selling almost all of its products under its own label, Trader Joe's "skips the middle man" and buys directly from both local and international small-time vendors.[11]
Trader Joe's is the exclusive retailer of Charles Shaw wine, popularly known as Two Buck Chuck[9] because of its $1.99 price tag in California; in some locales, it sells for more than $3 a bottle due to varying state liquor taxes and transportation costs. Of the wine selection at Trader Joe's, Coloumbe has said, "We built Trader Joe's on wine first, then food. I tasted 100,000 wines, and most weren't wonderful. They were submitted to us by desperate vintners." Along with Charles Shaw, Trader Joe's is known for stocking a very large selection of California and New-World wines.[12]
Though there are no Trader Joe's stores in Europe, products branded with its name have begun to appear in Aldi stores there. Products that have been made available include iced tea, salmon, dried plums, raisins, dried fruit, nuts, and crispbread.[13]
Trader Joe's promises that anything with a "Trader Joe's" logo contains no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, contains no MSG or trans fats, and is sourced from non-genetically modified ingredients.[14]
Employees
According to BusinessWeek, Trader Joe's pays above-union wages and generous bonuses. It contributes an additional 15.4% of each worker's gross pay into a company-funded retirement plan. As of 2004, pay for entry-level part-timers was $8 to $10 an hour; first-year supervisors average more than $40,000 a year.[3]
Trader Joe's also offers health insurance benefits (dental, vision, and medical) to part-time employees and their dependents. Part-time employees must work 900 hours per year (an average of 20 hours per week) and be employed for a minimum of three months consecutively to qualify. All part-time employees are evaluated every six months with the possibility of a pay increase. They also receive a 10 percent discount on items bought at the store.[15]
Instead of using PA systems, Trader Joe's employees use a simple bell system to communicate. One bell lets the crew know when to open another register. Two bells means that assistance is needed at the checkout stand. Three bells means that a manager is needed for assistance at the checkout stand.[16]
Locations
As of March 2009[update], Trader Joe's has a total of 319 stores in the following states: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C.[2]
The most recent stores to open are in Seattle, Washington (Ballard); Carlsbad, California; Los Angeles, California (Sunset Strip); Oak Park, Illinois; San Francisco, California (Stonestown); Santa Maria, California; and Westwood, California. [17]
Stores are scheduled to open in Aliso Viejo, California; Huntington Beach, California (Harbor); Larkspur, California; Newbury Park, California; Olympia, Washington;[18] Redding, California; and Virginia Beach, Virginia.[17]
Environmental awareness
When customers bring in their own bags, employees ring a bell to promote environmental awareness. At some locations, there is a weekly or monthly drawing for a gift certificate or bag of groceries for customers that bring in their own bags.
Criticism
The store has been half-jokingly referred to as "Traitor Joe's" by those unhappy with the chain for various reasons.[19][20][21]
References
- ^ a b SN's Top 75 Retailers for 2009 Supermarket News. Retrieved on April 6, 2009.
- ^ a b Locations (PDF file), Trader Joe's, June 24, 2008. Retrieved on March 16, 2009.
- ^ a b c Trader Joe's: The Trendy American Cousin, BusinessWeek, April 26, 2004. Retrieved on August 1, 2006.
- ^ For Trader Joe's, a New York Taste Test, The New York Times, March 8, 2006.
- ^ Trader Joe's targets 'educated' buyer, The Associated Press, August 30, 2003.
- ^ "Branding In History: Trader Joe’s –Not 7-Eleven" Marketing Doctor Blog. June 9, 2008.
- ^ The American Way of Aldi,Deutsche Welle, January 16, 2004
- ^ Consumer Reports ranks top supermarkets, Cleveland.com, April 6, 2009.
- ^ a b The American Way of Aldi, Deutsche Welle, January 16, 2004.
- ^ Chicago Sun Times, October 20, 2007
- ^ All Business, June 1 2002
- ^ Franson, Paul. "The Origins of Trader Joe's and Why Americans Don't Drink More Wine". Feature Article. Novus Vinum. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
{{cite web}}: line feed character in|title=at position 47 (help) - ^ Trader Joe's - German Wikipedia article
- ^ http://www.traderjoes.com/labels_and_lists.html
- ^ Benefits, Trader Joe's, Retrieved January 5, 2007.
- ^ http://www.traderjoes.com/tjs_faqs.asp#Bells
- ^ a b Coming Soon Locations, Trader Joe's. Retrieved on March 16, 2009
- ^ Trader Joe's to open in Olympia, The Olympian. Retrieved on February 19, 2009
- ^ [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SB&p_theme=sb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB047F2090F8220&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM "SOME DON'T RELISH PLANS FOR GROCERY TRADER JOE'S L STREET SITE STIRRING UP TRAFFIC WORRIES", Sacramento Bee, Aug. 7, 2000.]
- ^ "Folsom ponders water woe: How now, brown lawn?", Sacramento Business Journal, Oct. 28, 2005.
- ^ Traitor Joe's.com, find the real Joe Designed & Maintained by UFCW Local 1500, phone: 1-800-522-0456, Retrieved Mar. 16th, 2009.
External links
