Eat & Drink > Food & Grocery > Businesses
Trader Joe's
Grocery store selling organic products. Has local stores all over The US.
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Disappointed With Trader Joe's
There is not a Trader Joe's in my town so whenever I go to Indianapolis, I look forward to shopping there. I have not been there for several months and in the meantime I have been educated about the problems with plastic in our environment. So recently when I shopped there, I was disappointed to see how much plastic packaging TJ's uses. Trader Joe's own products like delicious snacks are always packaged in plastic containers. TJ's sells bottled water, including Fiji, in plastic bottles. Many of their takeout foods, like sandwiches, are wrapped in plastic. TJ's may be up on nutrition and fair trade, but is definitely over the top in plastic packaging. This is NOT green or sustainable. We should all write Trader Joe's about our concerns.
Linda's keywords: plastic packaging, nutritious foods
1 of 1 people thought this review was helpful.
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GMO's? No!, Says Trader Joe's
This you can know about Trader Joe's: their stance on Genetically Modified Food (GMO's): "Our customers can be assured that all products in Trader Joe's private label are sourced from non-genetically modified ingredients. Our efforts began in 2001, when we determined that, given a choice, our customers would prefer to eat foods and beverages made without the use of genetically engineered ingredients. Our process has been to identify any product containing ingredients that could potentially be derived from genetically engineered crops and work with our suppliers to replace offending ingredients with acceptable alternatives."
The Trader Joe's I shop at seems relatively small compared to other specialty grocers I frequent. More often than not, I can't find key ingredients on my shopping list, even though I leave with...condiments, mostly. And, I haven't been able to find that nice Cote d' Rhone I found while strolling through the wine aisle a while back.
Cris' keywords: specialty foods, gourmet foods, natural foods, neighborhood grocer, wine, condiments, GMO
1 of 1 people thought this review was helpful.
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fabulous shopping experience
I went veg in June and TJs has allowed the transition to be effortless. Great prices, great food, great environment. Makes shopping a fun and soulful practice. I adore them!!
Brooks' keywords: Grocery store, food
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mixed reviews
Mostly I think its too crowded and overuses plastic (especially in terms of produce). However, the prices are decent, it has a handful of things I love, and is walking distance from me. Otherwise I'd be anti...
Kelly's keywords: Grocery store, food
2 of 2 people thought this review was helpful.
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Trader Joe's is a packaging nightmare!
Yeah, they have awesome food. But they are a plastic packaging nightmare. It's almost impossible to find anything at Trader Joe's that's not packaged in plastic. They will tell you that they use biodegradable PLA, but first of all, PLA is not technically biodegradable, and second of all, TJ's only uses it for a few produce items. All the salads, sandwiches, meats, cheeses, frozen foods, you name it, come in petro-plastic. Believe it or not, I saw a shrink-wrapped cucumber at TJ's yesterday. What would possibly be the point of shrink-wrapping a freakin' cucumber?
This is NOT a sustainable business practice, and as it operates now, Trader Joe's is not a sustainable business. Which is sad for me because like I said, they do have some wicked good food.
Beth's keywords: Trader Joes, packaging
6 of 6 people thought this review was helpful.
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Boycott Trader Joes
They have ripped off Toms of Maine products and replaced them with deceptively similar products under the "Trader Joes" imprint. Toms of Maine is one of the best small, successful GREEN businesses on the planet. Unacceptable.
Elisabeth's keywords: grocery store, Trader Joes
0 of 4 people thought this review was helpful.
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Yeah for Cary,NC!
Trader Joe's has been a great addition to the Raleigh,NC area. I love bringing my own grocery bags and my toddler loves getting a biodegradable balloon when we check out. My only qualm is if you find something you like there, buy 10 of them (if they are shelf stable) because the next time you go back they may not have it. They have a good selection of vegetarian and even vegan things there. Nice beer selection too.
Tricia's keywords: grocery, food
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Trader Joe's
The fairest pricing in town on the majority of items.
For discount gourmet stuff, it is the place to go.
Good nut and cheese selection as well as fruit juices.
Avoid the West Hollywood branch as their stock moves much slower due to the relative inaccessibility of the store, i.e. it can only be approached from the south.
because of the lower traffic volume in stock, the bagged lettuce and cheeses are sometimes short-dated.
Jeanne's keywords: grocery store
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great products
You can find things that you can't find anywhere else. They also have lots of unique store brand items, at great prices. They have a fantastic selection of wine, too. They always have fresh samples, and the employees are always upbeat and helpful. I've been shopping there since the day they opened.
Holly's keywords: unique, samples, wine, fresh
1 of 1 people thought this review was helpful.
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my favorite store
Trader Joe's has the best ambiance and prices when it comes to natural foods and I like seeing all the new products they have every time I shop there.
Barbara's keywords: Trader Joes, natural foods
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Prices are not bad
Trader Joe's is kind of like a poor man's Whole Foods. Although not as big as whole foods, it does have a reasonable amount of products at a pretty decent price. I would recommend it.
Mohammed's keywords: food store, food coops
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Boycott Trader Joe's Packaging
Trader Joe's has unsound, and unsustainable packaging practices. And it only seems to get worse each month as they move more and more items into plastic wrap and plastic bottle.
I have started a campaign to educate people about TJ's packaging and encouraging them to write CEO, Dan Bane to demand environmentally-sound packaging. Please do not buy any TJ's products that include plastic. Follow up with a letter to tell them and encourage your friends to do the same.
Dan Bane
Trader Joe's
PO Box 5049
Monrovia, CA 91017
Elizabeth's keywords: Trader Joes packaging unsustainable
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Where is the evidence??
My wife shops at Traders and I love the dried blueberries, but I see overpackaging in everything. Are there any bulk foods? No. Do they put all their vegitables in hard plastic containers? Yes. Is there an newsletter or anything on the website saying what they do for the community or the environment? No.
For comparison, look at www.pccnaturalmarkets.com . They support local farmers (something you can't be doing if you repackage all your foods as "Trader Joes" brand), they send out information about fighting genetic foods, and the list goes on.
I see no evidence that Trader Joes is good for the environment or good for my neighborhood (other than having low prices).
Ed's keywords: low prices PCC natural markets evidence
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Organic Food Variety
Jennifer's keywords: Grocery Store
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trader joe's
A fun store that brings international and unique products to local areas at reasonable prices. I've noticed a trend of the store using compostable plastics in the packing of their products and supporting a bring-your-own-bag mentality. They also have a decent selection of organic and fair-trade products. I'd really like to see them move in an even more green and eco-friendly direction but thus far they are doing a pretty good job.
Kaman's keywords: store
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good products
I all the times buy my groceries from Trade Joes. I love this store. I can trust what they sell and all they do for community. When I am in Trader Joes I feel at home. This store cares for her customers. I rate five stars to Trader Joes. Thanks all you all do for our Earth, Our land and our home. One world, green and beautiful.
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great grocery store
Wonderful products, preselected to be tasty, high quality and quite affordable. However, the produce selection is fair at best and very overpackaged. I wish they would reduce their packaging per volume on all of their products. Consumer campaign anyone
Devin's keywords: grocery trader joes
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User Comments:
Vera J. says:
But that's how Trader Joe's works. They make deals with companies where they can sell one or two products which they'll buy bulk for a massive discount. But TJs is competing with Whole Foods. Whole foods costs a ton... more »
Karl B. says:
I hate to damper your Toms of Maine party, but they are owned by Proctor and Gamble now. I dig Trader Joes, but do have an issue with the packaging. It sounds like we need to start letting TJ Store Managers know what we... more »