I found Trader Joe’s products at Aldi, but it’s not what you think (2024)

FAQs

Are Aldi and Trader Joe's products the same? ›

They are different companies entirely, with different logos, but a very similar shopping experience. The funny thing is… when you go to a Trader Joe's in the U.S., some of the names of Trader Joe's house brand are funny takes on the origin of the products, like Trader Jose, or Trader Giotto.

Apart from the unique products on the shelves, the two stores also share another quality. They've both owned by the same people. According to Reader's Digest, Trader Joe's founder Joe Coulombe sold his business to Theo Albrecht in 1979, officially making the Albrecht family the proud owners of both prosperous markets.

In 1979 Aldi Nord acquired all Trader Joe's in the United States, but continued to let them “operate independently.” On the other hand, Aldi Süd is the parent company of Trader Joe's in Europe and Aldi locations in the United States.

A popular misconception about Aldi U.S. BB #:116756 is that it's a sibling company, or at least a cousin, to Trader Joe's BB #:162286. It is not. While the two chains have some similarities, with both following a low-price, private-label-dependent strategy, they are independently owned and operated.

At Trader Joe's, you won't find a lot of branded items. Instead, you'll discover a store full of unique and interesting products, along with everyday basics, in the Trader Joe's label.

Aldi avoids brand names

At most supermarkets, you'll find tons of name-brand items, but at Aldi, a whopping 90% of the products are private label. By avoiding brand names, Aldi can skip going through another company and offer you cheaper prices.

Aldi Süd expanded into the U.S. in 1976, just three years before Aldi Nord bought Trader Joe's, making the U.S. the only country besides Germany where both brands operate.

Trader Joe's is owned by German billionaires Karl and Theo Albrecht, who also own the Aldi food chain. The change apparently does not affect products containing multiple ingredients, of which some may be from China.

“Albrecht-Diskont,” meaning “Albrecht's Discount.” The name was eventually shortened to Aldi (Albrecht-Diskont) in 1962.

Who is Trader Joe's owned by? ›

Aldi is a Germany-based discount retailer with close to 2,000 store locations in 36 states. Aldi claims its prices are 50% less than traditional supermarkets. Independent research in markets like Houston and Chicago revealed that Aldi's prices are around 15% cheaper than Walmart.

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.

In 1961 the brothers changed the name to Aldi, which is short for Albrecht Discount, and the business continued to grow.

In 1961, the Albrecht Family founded the world's first discount grocery store in Germany.

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.

Theodor "Theo" Albrecht Jr. (born 1950) is a German billionaire businessman, the owner of Trader Joe's and Aldi Nord, and the son of Aldi's co-founder.

For the name of his new store, Coulombe landed on Trader Joe's to evoke exotic images of the South Seas. The name was inspired by Trader Vic's, a popular Tiki Bar restaurant started in California. Joe Coulombe the, founder of Trader Joe's, in 1986.

5. Annie's mac 'n' cheese. Debunked. Rumor has it Trader Joe's mac 'n' cheese comes from General Mills' organic pasta company, Annie's Homegrown.

Trader Joe's Organic Chicken Breasts come from chickens raised specifically for us primarily on family farms, under the strict USDA guidelines for Organic Certification.

Where does Trader Joe's get their eggs? ›

The hens are raised in open pastures where they can forage for seeds, bugs, and grass, and each hen has 108 square feet of space to roam. When it comes to the ethics of Trader Joe's other eggs, over half of the eggs TJ's sells come from cage free hens, according to TraderJoes.com.

Aldi shoppers are calling out the supermarket chain for stocking Easter Bunny marshmallow snacks that resemble something other than what they were intended to be. The unintended shape of the "Bunnies and Chicks" first caught the attention of a British shopper who wrote on Twitter: "Sorry Aldi, but that ain't a Bunny."

Supermarket chain Aldi, which is known for selling in-house products comparable to well-known brands, has been accused of ripping off Aussie children's snack food brand Little Bellies.

The complaint basically calls the product misleading

According to a report by Top Class Actions, a federal class action lawsuit has been filed by two individuals who claim that the coffee from Aldi doesn't deliver in terms of quantity.

ALDI is most highly rated for Compensation and benefits and Trader Joe's is most highly rated for Culture. Learn more, read reviews and see open jobs.

That is: Trader Joe's more or less only sells products under its own brand name, with few exceptions. 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.

That's why ALDI has everything you need to stay on track, from heart healthy breakfast options to fresh, organic dinner items. We offer a wide variety of fresh produce, gluten free products, high-protein snacks and low carb options to fit every lifestyle at a great price.

We start with garlic that's grown in California's San Joaquin Valley. The freshly harvested bulbs are carefully dried, then ground into a granulated powder. Trader Joe's Garlic Powder is a simple product, in a simple bottle, with a simple label.

Does Trader Joe's Source From China? Trader Joe's no longer carries single-ingredient products from China. However, the company has products with ingredients from China, like vitamins and minerals in many processed foods.

Trader Joe's is taking some of its Chinese food off the menu. The Monrovia-based grocery store chain, known for its selection of budget gourmet and ethnic offerings, said Monday that it would phase out the sale of single-ingredient items -- such as garlic and spinach -- that are imported from China.

Why is Aldi called Lidl? ›

When he discovered a newspaper article about a painter and retired schoolteacher Ludwig Lidl, he bought the rights to the name from him for 1,000 German marks. Lidl is part of the Schwarz Group, the fifth-largest retailer in the world with sales of €104.3 billion (2018).

Aldis as a boy's name is of Italian and Old German origin meaning "old one or elder".

To answer that question, we look back to 1913, when a woman named Anna Albrecht opened a small grocery store in the suburbs of Essen, Germany. It was called Karl Albrecht Spiritousen and Lebensmittel (translated Karl Albrecht Spirits and Food).

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.

Other Trader Joe's names cited include Trader Giotto's and Trader Joe San for Italian and Japanese foods. After the petition was launched Trader Joe's issued a statement saying it has been in the process of updating such product labels.

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.

Aldi won in every single produce matchup. Aldi beat Walmart on chicken breasts and ground beef by about 40%. Aldi won in almost every miscellaneous category—except diapers, where they tied. Walmart stands out in pantry items, with their chicken broth and gluten-free bread coming in at least 30% cheaper than Aldi.

Which is cheaper? In general, Aldi's prices for its private label brands are slightly lower on produce, meat, and dairy products than Costco. However, for brand name products, Costco typically offers the better price. Aldi is typically known for having some of the lowest prices on meat around -- especially ground beef!

Aldi was the least expensive grocery store and Dollar General turned out to be the most expensive. Nutritionist Dr. Jessica Soldavini explains that shoppers can still choose healthy items despite out-of-control inflation.

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.

What day does Trader Joe's restock? ›

Experienced customers will share that the days to shop at TJ's are Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. All fresh fruits and vegetables arrive every morning and are restocked every day. The most popular items, which often include some non-refrigerated foods, are often gone by mid-afternoon.

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.

In 1961, the Albrecht Family founded the world's first discount grocery store in Germany.

What makes ALDI different? At our core, we are different by design. We are private-label trailblazers, and our company is built on these basic principles: simplicity matters, we sell the best food at low prices, and everything we do is purposefully designed to save people money.

The Albrecht family, who own Aldi and Trader Joe's, has been historically secretive, and there is a lot that's unknown about their personal lives. What is known, however, is their net worth: $53.5 billion, according to Forbes.

Here's the short answer:

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

In fact, Aldi and Trader Joe's are both completely independently owned and operated. Aldi originated in the early 1900s as a solo standing German grocery store. Trader Joe's, on the other hand, was launched in the late 1970s in the United States.

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

Are Aldi products the same? ›

At most supermarkets, you'll find tons of name-brand items, but at Aldi, a whopping 90% of the products are private label. By avoiding brand names, Aldi can skip going through another company and offer you cheaper prices. Make sure you stock up on these value items from Aldi the next time you visit.

Aldi

T.A.C.T. Holding, Inc.

Trader Joe's differentiates itself from other grocery stores through its private-label products, which comprise approximately 80% of its offerings. The company's product selection emphasizes high-quality, healthy, and innovative items, often sourced from boutique suppliers worldwide.

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.

2 | Don't assume it's a health food store

Because Trader Joe's offers a wide selection of healthy items it's easy to assume that it's a health food store. It's not. They do a great job of offering a wide variety of food, from healthy, minimally processed choices to super-processed junk food.

Trader Joe's is owned by German billionaires Karl and Theo Albrecht, who also own the Aldi food chain. The change apparently does not affect products containing multiple ingredients, of which some may be from China.

From healthier choices, gluten-free items, along with other dietary needs and preferences, more than 90% of the products in our stores are under our exclusive brand. Our Quality Assurance team has also developed strict guidelines in order to meet our high standards, so you can feel good about the food you buy at ALDI.

Aldi is known for bringing in private label brands instead of the more popular brands, and it also has its own store brands as well. And while Aldi does carry some household names, there are a few hidden gems that can replace those items for a fraction of the cost.

Aldi has its origins in a small store set up by Anna Albrecht in Germany in 1913. After WWII, she gave the store to her two sons who turned it into a chain and then split it into two companies. The companies reported combined net sales of around $95 billion in 2021. Here's how Aldi got there.