What makes trader joes so special

Trader Joe's carries about a 10th of the items traditional grocery stores do. Too much choice is actually overwhelming, according to Iyengar's research. A study she coauthored found people were more likely to purchase gourmet jams or chocolates when asked to choose from six offerings instead of 24 to 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'. You are pulling out ice cream cones and frozen indian meals and delicious looking pizzas. You physically reach into the freezer much more than at other grocery stores. Why is that? Normally browsing in the freezer aisle is unpleasant.

There is no barrier between a customer and their dinner—an interactive and easy freezer experience where customers can easily pull items out and try new items without making themselves into a contorted icicle. Customers can play with products, trying any item in the store by simply asking an employee. You can sip free coffee and eat samples while you shop—always very unique flavor combinations of their products.

They bring the best, most exotic flavors from all over the world, at an unbeatable price and with personality and good service. They even have one person in charge of the spice aisle, and work to bring hard-to-get spices to customers at an unbeatable price. Employees are given the freedom and resources to brighten a customers day, like one employee who gave a pint of ice cream and a spoon to a girl who was broken up with, or a frozen chicken tikka masala to a guy preparing for a stressful job interview, or a bouquet of sunflowers to a teary-eyed customer whose husband had just died.

I went to an Aldi once … that was enough. Aldi Sud has the territorial rights for and operates in the US. The theme is the theme. Many retailers try to create a look and feel.

The quality of their products and the way they price has been consistent. And that does not happen by accident. They get my 2 cents every time. That and the inexpensive fresh flowers, abundant cheese selection and unique snacks make it a must-visit.

And then he took it a step further by putting so much of the product under one umbrella, one brand. A private label becomes a proprietary label becomes a brand unto its own.

Standing very simply for quality and value. They have clarity as to which customer segment and persona they are serving, and ensure the assortment and pricing is consistent with who they are serving. That is always a winning combo. Very helpful staff, I rarely have to wait in line and the pricing is not outrageous for a specialty store.

Many retailers have copied the products over time. What an inspirational legacy. Most other retailers do not do that. And there's plenty of that to go around. But outside of produce, Trader Joe's has a large selection of different healthy options like dried fruit A lot of the packaged products also had a healthier bent to them. This section of chips featured "reduced guilt" potato chips that are supposed to be healthier than regular brands.

This Trader Joe's also had a whole selection of protein powders and bars. A primary one involves getting products directly from suppliers. This means that a lot of Trader Joe's products are in-house and though they might seem similar to more mainstream brands, they are almost always cheaper.

These veggie sticks looked pretty similar to the more commonly known veggie straws available in other stores like Whole Foods, but were marked at almost half the price of the better-known brand.

In addition to the lower prices, Trader Joe's-brand food items are often delicious, which brings us to our next reason to love the grocery chain Taste aside, the whimsical packaging of these products was also appealing. Trader Joe's also encourages customers to bring their own reusable bags.

Recently, Trader Joe's announced it would cut plastic packaging on certain food items like garlic to reduce plastic waste. This move was part of the company's plan to eliminate 1 million pounds of plastic from its stores in and had the dual effect of being more sustainable and reducing prices on certain items. Luckily, things move pretty quickly at Trader Joe's. There are usually many registers and crew members help move the process along.