Stop & Shop Discovers Trader Joe's?

Trader Joe's stores typically are ignored by traditional grocery stores. After all, they're typically located in a strip mall and they only carry a few thousand products (and most of them are private-labeled). Most supermarkets consider them to be "niche" and "novelty." How can anyone be a serious market without stocking 50,000 or more products, have a wide variety of brand-name items, and run a weekly flyer in the newspaper?

I was surprised to see Stop & Shop, the dominant local supermarket chain in Connecticut, run a commercial promoting economical organic foods. Here's a screen shot from the commercial which ran during E.R. tonight:

Have they noticed Trader Joe's or are they just promoting healthier foods? What do you think?

Comments

[Mark Spearman]

I recently got into eating "good" food. Supermarkets really tick me off that they charge so much for their puny selection of the good stuff. Then I went to Trader Joe's and they have all the good stuff for cheap. It was awesome.

The strange thing is that the store I go to in Easton Town Center in Columbus has notoriously overpriced stores. Right there in the middle of all the biggest bunch of BS businesses you ever did see is a reasonable store with great stuff.

I sure hope they come to my hometown 35 miles away! I don't know how they do it, but I eat great stuff for cheap now!

[John McAward]

If Stop & Shop wants to compete with Trader Joe's they might begin with John McCann's Irish Oatmeal. I buy it at Trader Joe's for $4.79 after having seen it at Stop & Shop for $6.99 (46% more). When I e-mailed Stop & Shop and complained, they promised to look into matter. Four months later they have yet to change their pricing.
My only complaint about Trader Joe's is with the pace of expansion. I will soon move to FL from MA and will greatly miss Trader Joe's.

[S Duelks]

I currently live in Cape Cod....very happy that we have a Trader Joe's in Hyannis...but will be moving to Florida in a few months, any chance of opening up stores in Florida...St. Augustine area....????
Or any thoughts of selling on line?
Will miss shopping at Trader Joe's

[Art Vandelay]

Trader Joe's stinks, and I don't like it.

Everybody that works there is a hippie-tree hugger who refuses to wear deoderant.

The store has an odor that is foul.

I will go to a Stop & Shop anyday.

Ramon, trader joes is aweful.

[Megan]

I think folks are getting more concerned with the food they're eating, and they're realizing the ramifications of eathing foods laden with preservatives and chemicals they've never heard of. Across the country, there are people who are buying more organic food, and I don't think it's necessarily tied to Trader Joe's, especially in markets that do not have the fortune of having TJ.

Safeway, for example, carries a brand called, appropriately, "Organic." I haven't tried it yet, as I just go to TJ for those goodies. Other grocery store chains have always carried some sort of organic food, but at least here in Chicago, for years that type of food was just relegated to one small corner of your typical HUGE supermarket.

[Mike Solenzio]

Trader Joes is the answer to quality food at an affordable price! I have always been aware of eating well, however prior to becoming familiar w/Trader Joes, I didn't have the availablity of whole foods. Everytime I walk into a Trader Joes it's a fun filled experience, and I always learn something new.... I applaud the purchasing agents,, and I think they are highly skilled as well as their employees. Everytime I visit Stop & Shop I become quite ill with the commercialized point of sales signs,, and all the "Big Brother" corporate high fructose products. UGH.

THANK YOU Trader Joes for recognizing quality!!

[Christine Isenberg]

Can you please tell me IF YOU WILL BE OPENING STORES IN FLORIDA anytime in the NEAR future?
I live in Fort Lauderdale and my mom lives near Tampa - What about Texas? Houston would be a great place to bring TJ's - I may have to move there in the near future - I MISS my favorite grocery store SO much - I use to live in California and everytime I go there to visit (at least once a year) I have to go to TJ's at least once! PLEASE EXPAND to be everywhere!

[brian baumann]

I like your store so much thatI would like to open up one,so who would I have speak with about this . I have been a customer for years and I think the products you are selling are top shelf organic foods in an afforable price range within a pleasent shopping enviroment, thanks.

[Quiet Reader]

Trader Joes, while amazing, will never be huge competition for Stop and Shop. Here in West Hartford where a Whole Foods Market and Trader Joes have sort of recently opened, I noticed the the Organic foods start to filter into Stop and Shop. I asked one of the managers how the store was doing and he said they were getting ready for a total revamp. He also mentioned that Whole Foods was killing them. We already had one large natural foods market in the area, so when Whole Foods came in, stop and shops prices skyrocketed and the other natural food markets prices dropped. Stop and Shop will always hold its ground, but the natural food are definitly on the rise! Woo!! I now rarely go into stop and shop, milk is 6 bucks a gallon there!

[will gieser]

need some trader joes in central florida PLEASE

[will gieser]

need some trader joes in central florida PLEASE

[Gil]

Trader Joe's will stop sellng the Irish Oatmeal when they feel the oatmeal company is totally dependent on them, then they will drop the product and force the manufacturer to make the product with the trader Joe's label.. (knock off). Do you see any difference to Walmart???? They will destroy the original brand that company spent years developing. Wake up and do your homework???