On the glory of Trader Joe's.
Category 1: Foods & Drink
TJ's wine is sourced from overstock wine, and the Trader sell the wine for $3 a bottle. This is entirely satisfactory wine. Think that's cheap? Ditch the bottle, buy it by the box (same wine), and its $10.
Many foods in TJ's are their private label. These are all remarkably good, especially for the money. Whether that's the guac from Trader Jose, the stuffed pasta from Trader Giotto, or the beer from JosephsBrau -- you know you are buying quality at a low, low price. The coffee selection is fantastic. We can buy shade grown ethiopian medium roast highfalutin coffee for $8 a pound.
The private label foods? No artificial flavors, preservatives, rGBT, etc. If you are worried about it, they probably cover it.
They have standard gluten free and veggie and vegan labels used throughout the store. No guess work!
Category 2: Business practices
TJ's pays their workers a living wage. Full Stop.
Supervisory crew can start at 45k-75k, and store managers can make in the low six figures. They contribute to most employees 401(k) plans. They pay for health insurance (and did so before ObamaCare). Entry level pay is $10 to $20 an hour.
Generally, TJs foods and drinks will be cheaper than the alternative. You pay less, and the employees make more.
Category 3: The Line
TJs has been moving towards a single line system. That is, you don't choose a lane -- everyone waits in the same line, and gets access to the purchasing line without having to worry that the line they choose will move slowly. Hallelujah!
What do you love about TJs?
This post exists for Brianna Sheldon , who asked.
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I am so sad that our TJ probably doesn't have wine because of PA's stupid blue law bullshit. Someday we will move, and I will have $3 wine!
ReplyDeleteThis is all very cool!
Rachel E.S. Walton has told me they treat their employees really well.
ReplyDeleteBrianna Sheldon Yeah, looks like TJs doesn't get to sell their wine. That is too bad!
ReplyDeleteI won't lie, it's their seasoned nut and puffed rice snack selection.
ReplyDeleteMarshall Miller You just reminded me of their frozen foods. Oh damn, their gyozo is off the hook. We keep a couple of their frozen indian things in the freezer for emergencies. My normal work at home lunch is a frozen pizza from them. Cheap and sufficiently good.
ReplyDeleteTJs in my area has been both a traffic nightmare and attempting to big-boxify one of the last unique neighborhoods in the city. Oh, and also try to put the big ol' hippie co-op out of business. So nah, I shop at the locally-owned fancy pants lux grocery store instead.
ReplyDeleteLex Larson I am sad that your TJs experience is less than fantastic!
ReplyDeleteWilliam Nichols Another way to look at it is that my town is already full of awesome options for noms, like fancy grocery stores and co-ops like whoa, so TJs ain't no big thang.
ReplyDeleteAs a celiac I found out the hard way that I can't eat any TJs food, even the so-called GF stuff, if it's labeled with "made in a factory that also processes wheat." And even most of the dried fruit, and much of the supposedly GF stuff, has that label. :( (Thank goodness for honesty, though.) So I really have very little reason to go in there. (I can have most of the dairy they sell, but my local chains sell even better milk and cheese, as well as GF food that I can actually eat, and fruit that isn't individually wrapped in plastic; I have to stop and stare every time I see that at TJs.)
ReplyDeleteI really dig the way they treat their workers, though. And they have an excellent selection of booze. And the TJ honey mints are actually GF and so tasty.
Lex Larson Yeah, if the larger national retailers do one thing well, it is competition. Both our whole foods and our Giant started having a section dedicated to competing with TJs. So, they have sweets and chocolates and such, which are private label and at much reduced cost. I saw the same thing happen in pittsburgh when the Whole Foods opened; suddenly the Giant Eagle had much superior produce!
ReplyDeleteAnd that is a win for all. It sounds like you already have that win, so hooray.
While I'm certainly fond of Trader Joe's, the 3 dollar wine consistently causes headaches in me and my wife.
ReplyDeletei miss the $3 wine :(
ReplyDeletein nova scotia motherfucking Barefoot is $15 a bottle
Dymphna C. Want me to ship you a crate of cheapass TJ wine?
ReplyDeleteaww you'd have to pay taxes on it and it wouldn't be cheapass anymore :(
ReplyDeleteLex Larson You can ship alcohol? SO JEALOUS! That's illegal here. :( stupid PA blue laws.
ReplyDeleteWell, I think it's technically smuggling. =P
ReplyDeletePlease don't conspire to commit international felonies on my public comment thread, especially for some cheap wine. :-)
ReplyDeleteNobody wants to go to the pen for two buck Chuck.
ReplyDeleteTwo Buck Chuck is fantastic for braising, because it's drinkable.
ReplyDelete