Here's Why There's Not a Trader Joe's Where You Live (2024)

TJ's has a specific method for determining where to open a new store.

By

Bailey Fink

Here's Why There's Not a Trader Joe's Where You Live (1)

Bailey Fink is a devout home cook and assistant editor at Allrecipes. She has written over 200 stories covering everything from cooking methods and storage techniques to grocery shopping on a budget, how-to guides, product reviews, and important food-related news.

Published on October 19, 2021

Here's Why There's Not a Trader Joe's Where You Live (2)

Trader Joe's has been providing its unique and fun grocery experience since the first store opened in Pasadena, Calif., in 1967. Now, the grocery store has become a fan favorite across the United States in neighborhoods that are lucky enough to have a TJ's.

The chain is known for its great customer experience, for making grocery shopping a laid-back, stress-free environment, for its unique and delicious grocery products, and, of course, for unbeatably low prices. It's no wonder everyone wants a Trader Joe's near them.

Trader Joe's has over 500 stores across 42 states and is regularly opening new locations. But people are always calling for new stores to be added to their hometowns — and if you don't have a TJ's yet, you might be wondering why.

Unfortunately, Trader Joe's does not have any formula or demographic requirement for where they open new locations. But according to the Freakonomics podcast, an analysis by AggData found that Trader Joe's stores are located in counties where the household median income is about $10,000 higher than the average median income.

With that being said, Trader Joe's values frugality, so the stores are normally located in cheaper parts of expensive areas.

But if you're feeling especially heartbroken about not having a Trader Joe's in your area, the store offers a "Request a Trader Joe's in My City" form that you can fill out on their site. The form states that there is no guarantee that they will open one, but, according to the Inside Trader Joe's podcast, requests are one thing they consider when looking for new locations.

"We've got a plan, and that plan is based on customer feedback," Tracy Anderson, Senior Vice President of Real Estate and Construction at Trader Joe's, said on the Inside Trader Joe's podcast. "We listen to Crew Members at the store, Regional Vice Presidents. We look at current stores, where things are really hot. We look at accessibility, visibility, parking, and square footage."

Anderson says she gets hundreds of calls and emails a day about opening new locations, as well as individual community requests. Even though they consider every single location request, it won't guarantee a new store, but it can increase your chances of finding a new Trader Joe's near you — so, it's worth a shot.

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Here's Why There's Not a Trader Joe's Where You Live (2024)

FAQs

What is Trader Joes catch phrase? ›

We keep our costs low because every penny we save is a penny you save.

How does Trader Joes decide where to locate? ›

“We've got a plan and that plan is based on customer feedback,” Anderson says. “We listen to Crew Members at the store, Regional Vice Presidents. We look at current stores, where things are really hot. We look at accessibility, visibility, parking, and square footage.”

What is the secret to Trader Joes success? ›

By selling foods outside of what the shopper typically sees, Trader Joe's customers keep coming back to see what's new. Over the years, the grocery chain has cultivated a loyal customer base. These customers appreciate the unusual products and competitive prices in the store.

Why does Trader Joe's do 2 interviews? ›

If you get invited to a second interview, that means you're very likely to be hired. If you're accepted, and they decide to hire you, it can take about a week for you to start working at Trader Joe's. The reason for the delay and second interview is that the store usually performs a quick background check.

What does Trader Joe's call their employees? ›

Crew. As a member of the Crew, you do a little of everything—and handle a lot. So does everyone along with you. From running the register, to stocking shelves, to creating a beautiful display; all while making sure that every customer has a fun, friendly and informative shopping experience.

Are Trader Joe's employees told to flirt? ›

The answer? While cashiers aren't trained to flirt with customers, they are encouraged to be amicable. “They do remind you that part of Trader Joe's appeal is its famously friendly atmosphere and ask that you do what you can to maintain that,” Philip, a former Trader Joe's employee, told Glamour.

What does the bell ringing at Trader Joe's mean? ›

Sometimes during your TJ's visit, you'll hear the bells ringing — either once, twice, or three times. The bells act as a "Trader Joe's Morse code," according to the store. There isn't a PA system in place, so the bell is the way the team members communicate with one another across the large space.

Who is the average consumer at Trader Joes? ›

Trader Joe's average customer is a married person in an urban area who is 25 to 44 years old, earning $80,000.

Why do people prefer Trader Joe's? ›

Trader Joe's is known for its unique food products, including seasonal offerings, as well as for its low prices. But Trader Joe's actually was not the most popular grocery store in America in 2022. In fact, a YouGov survey showed another grocery store was just a little bit more beloved among U.S. adults.

Does Trader Joe's change prices based on location? ›

Trader Joe's prices are the same nationwide

Whether you're shopping in New York City or San Diego or anywhere in between, the prices at Trader Joe's are consistent across the United States.

What are Trader Joe's weaknesses? ›

Weaknesses. Limited store presence: While Trader Joe's operates over 500 stores in the United States, its store count is relatively low compared to other major grocery chains. This limited presence can restrict the company's reach and make it difficult for some customers to access its stores.

Who is Trader Joe's biggest competition? ›

Trader Joe's's alternatives and competitors. See how Trader Joe's compares to similar products. Trader Joe's's top competitors include Tres Lecheria, Thrive Market, and Whole Foods Market.

What is hidden in Trader Joe's? ›

Donkeys, whales, monkeys, and lobsters are just some of the stuffed animals placed throughout stores as a way to keep children and parents entertained while shopping, confirms Today.

Are Trader Joe's employees happy? ›

One of the most noticeable things about Trader Joe's is its happy employees. It's easy to tell that Trader Joe's employees love their jobs, and a large reason for that is because the company invests in employee experience.

Does Trader Joe's negotiate salary? ›

Negotiate Salary

If you think you and your skill set should be valued higher than your offer, negotiate your salary! 20% of men and 100% of women at Trader Joe's said they negotiated their salaries. On average, Trader Joe's employees earn $128,919. Trader Joe's ranks in the Bottom 45% for compensation in Los Angeles.

What are Trader Joe's core values? ›

Trader Joe's core values include “producing customer wow experiences, kaizen, treating its store as a brand, integrity and being product-driven.”1 Its values maintain the top quality services characterizing the company and setting it apart as a unique enterprise.

What's the best answer to why do you want to work here? ›

I see this opportunity as a way to contribute to an exciting/forward-thinking/fast-moving company/industry, and I feel I can do so by/with my …” “I feel my skills are particularly well-suited to this position because …” “I believe I have the type of knowledge to succeed in this role and at the company because …”

What is best answer when asked why you want the job? ›

Talk about specific examples of how you can help this company achieve their goals and highlight any relevant transferrable skills that will make you stand out as the right candidate. Write down any recent achievements you can talk about or any challenges you've faced recently that might be related to this new job.

What is the average age of Trader Joes employees? ›

What is the average age of employees at Trader Joe's? The most common age range of Trader Joe's employees is 20-30 years.

How long is a lunch break at Trader Joe's? ›

You get a 10 minute break, lunch, then your last 10 minutes break. Each day you also take 10ish minutes to have a staff meeting to go over the product, how well we are doing that day, or just to discuss how well our staff is doing.

Does Trader Joe's pay extra on Sundays? ›

The same month, Trader Joe's announced company-wide increases to compensation and benefits, including an increase to discounts for employees from 10 to 20%, a $10 an hour premium pay for Sundays, an increase to paid time off and market rate pay adjustments over complaints about pay disparities between longer term ...

Why are Trader Joes cashiers so nice? ›

So what is the reason Trader Joe's employees are so nice? The answer seems to be that the company treats its employees well, and so employees want to return the favor to the customers. Lucky us. NBC News reports that customers are likely to save as much as 20 percent on groceries.

Does Trader Joe's call past employers? ›

Yes. They will make sure you're trustworthy and dependable.

Is Trader Joe's a stressful job? ›

Overall, the Reddit post reveals working at Trader Joe's is a pretty low stress job that pays well.

What does 3 bells mean in a shop? ›

Two bells mean there are additional questions that need to be answered at the checkout. Three bells call over a manager-type person.

Is Aldis and Trader Joe's owned by the same company? ›

Here's the short answer:

“ALDI U.S. and Trader Joe's are independently operated companies with no joint ownership.”

Can you taste test at Trader Joe's? ›

Customers can taste test products, too

You can also try things in the store before you buy them—so long as they are not items that need to be cooked, of course.

Who is the target market for Trader Joe's? ›

Trader Joe's targets singles, couples, and small families

As for who shops at Trader Joe's, it targets “singles, couples, and small families with its comparatively small package sizes, eschewing large families and bulk buyers”, ​said Porjes.

Is Trader Joe's overpriced? ›

Trader Joe's is definitely cheaper than the average grocery store, but you might have to wait in a longer checkout line to take advantage of them.

What city has the most Trader Joe's? ›

Cities with the most number of Trader Joes stores in the United States
CityState / TerritoryNumber of Locations
Los AngelesCalifornia14
New YorkNew York9
San DiegoCalifornia8
SeattleWashington7
6 more rows
May 16, 2023

What is Trader Joes personality? ›

Trader Joe's personality can be described as friendly, helpful, quirky, creative and healthy. The quirky and creative personality can be seen in the signage around the store and the company's private label products. The stores and product packaging are decorated with quirky images such as a fun comic or catch-phrase.

What are the challenges that Trader Joes is facing in the current market? ›

“In March, we noted the unique struggles that Trader Joe's would likely face during COVID. The brand's pricing, lack of online orientation, and perception as 'part' of the grocery picture as opposed to a one-stop-shop, were factors that we felt would limit success,” writes Ethan Chernofsky of Placer.ai.

Why are Trader Joes customers the most satisfied in America? ›

So what was it about Trader Joe's that resulted in such high levels of customer satisfaction? The chain ranked first on atmosphere and fast checkouts, and second on cleanliness, courteous staff, merchandise selection and accurate pricing.

What does Trader Joe's do with unsold food? ›

As a national chain of neighborhood grocery stores, we are proud to donate 100% of products that go unsold but remain fit to be enjoyed to local food recovery organizations, in addition to a wide-range of community-based non-profit partners, seven days a week.

How much of a raise does Trader Joe's give? ›

TJ's employees are also eligible for a 7-10 percent raise every year and for a 401k plan if they work for more than 30 hours a week for three months. And those are just two of the secrets Trader Joe's employees wish they could tell you. But the positive atmosphere of working there extends beyond the monetary.

Where does Trader Joe's make their money? ›

Trader Joe's makes money by offering consumers a low-cost, high-quality grocery store experience. It maintains this low-cost model because it provides in-house brands instead of premium brands.

What is Trader Joe's culture? ›

We are dedicated to doing the work, every single day, to make sure Trader Joe's is an environment that is safe, welcoming, inclusive, and respectful for all Crew Members and customers. Read more about our commitment to integrity...

What differentiates Trader Joe's? ›

Trader Joe's distinguishes itself by carrying selective private-label products not found at your typical grocery stores. Unlike most chain supermarkets, Trader Joe's stores are quite small, typically under 15,000 square feet and carry around 4,000 stock keeping units (SKUs) per store.

What questions are asked during Trader Joes interview? ›

Interview questions at Trader Joe's

They ask about previous experience, A time you had a problem with a coworker, a time a coworker gave you advice to improve, how you overcame a rough experience with customer, a positive time you had w… What is integrity mean to you?

What does Trader Joe's look for in employees? ›

Passion for Food: Trader Joe's is known for its unique and high-quality food offerings. They want employees who are passionate about food and can speak to customers about the products they offer.

Does Trader Joe's do three interviews? ›

Went through 3 rounds of interviews before getting offer. First and second interview was with captains and final interview with the manager of the store. Very generic questions, mostly looking to get to know your personality and attitude. Favorite trader joe's product?

What are 3 commonly asked interview questions? ›

Common interview questions
  • Tell me about yourself.
  • Why are you interested in working for this company?
  • Tell me about your education.
  • Why have you chosen this particular field?
  • Describe your best/worst boss.
  • In a job, what interests you most/least?
  • What is your major weakness?

What are 5 common questions asked during a job interview in your field? ›

Most Common Job Interview Questions:
  • Tell me something about yourself.
  • How did you hear about this position?
  • Why do you want to work here?
  • Why did you decide to apply for this position?
  • What is your greatest strength?
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  • What do you know about this company/organization?
Mar 23, 2023

What are the 7 commonly asked interview questions? ›

How to master these 7 common interview questions
  • Where do you see yourself in five years time? ...
  • What are your strengths/weaknesses? ...
  • Why should I hire you? ...
  • Tell me about yourself/your work experience. ...
  • Why do you want this job? ...
  • What are your salary expectations? ...
  • Why are you the right fit to succeed in this role?

What are the values of Trader Joe's? ›

Trader Joe's Values
  • Producing customer wow experiences.
  • Kaizen.
  • Treating its store as a brand.
  • Integrity.
  • Being product driven.

How long is lunch break at Trader Joe's? ›

You get a 10 minute break, lunch, then your last 10 minutes break. Each day you also take 10ish minutes to have a staff meeting to go over the product, how well we are doing that day, or just to discuss how well our staff is doing.

Do Trader Joe's employees get free shirts? ›

You'll be provided a shirt, Just wear some decent jeans or cargo shorts and you'll be fine.

What does 3 bells mean at Trader Joe's? ›

One ring lets the team know to open another register, two rings mean there are questions that need to be answered in the checkout line, and three rings signify a manager-type person is needed at the register, according to Trader Joe's FAQs page.

How do I pass my third interview? ›

Tips to prepare for a third interview
  1. Review notes or recall information from your previous interviews.
  2. Prepare responses to behavioral questions.
  3. Research your interviewers.
  4. Prepare some questions to ask your interviewers.
Mar 10, 2023

Does Trader Joe's train their employees to flirt? ›

“Absolutely no one told me to flirt with customers. To be honest, I did that on my own,” says Josh, who worked at a Bay Area Trader Joe's from 2014 to 2015. And current Trader Joe's employee Jonny* says, “I've worked at 10 stores in two different states, and this is the first I've heard about flirting.”

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