SPECIALTY grocery store Trader Joe’s has a unique appeal in the retail landscape, from its free sample policy to its quirky signage.
A culinary pro and Trader Joe’s fan of nearly six decades has rounded up her top three tips for getting the best bang for your buck at the popular store.
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The first Trader Joe’s grocery store opened in 1967 in Pasadena, California, by founder Joe Coulombe.
The specialty grocer has gradually gained a loyal fan base, experiencing a spike in popularity in the 1970s when the chain embraced the health food movement with products such as granola and fresh-squeezed orange juice.
Trader Joe’s has continued to expand and innovate over the years, becoming more well known for its selection of unique store brand offerings and imported goods.
The iconic grocery store has attracted a devoted following of diehard fans, tying with Publix as the top favorite grocery store for Americans, per a new study by The American Customer Satisfaction Index.
Read More on Trader Joe’s
Today, Trader Joe’s is a household name with over 600 US locations, standing as a go-to spot for affordable, quality, and unique grocery options.
The chain also surpasses other grocers in terms of experience, according to food writer and culinary teacher Cherie Mercer Twohy, who has been an avid Trader Joe’s fan since visiting the very first store in 1967.
“I very rarely have fun at the regular grocery store. It’s just an errand. But I look forward to a TJ visit every time,” Twohy told The U.S. Sun.
“The corny music, the bright colors and clever signs, the lush floral displays – it all puts a smile on my face even before I get to the cheese section.”
She has written four books about the specialty grocery store, spent 15 years teaching thousands of students to appreciate the chain’s unique offerings, and frequently travels 60 miles to shop at Trader Joe’s.
Twohy spoke exclusively with The U.S. Sun, sharing her culinary expertise to help our readers make the most of their next shopping trip to Trader Joe’s.
The foodie delved into her three top tips for optimizing each visit to Trader Joe’s.
1. Don’t visit your closest store
Twohy offered shoppers a sneaky trick to spot the best finds on their trips to the grocery store, encouraging them to visit the next closest Trader Joe’s rather than the location nearest them.
“I like to go to the next closest Trader Joe’s – not the one I visit most regularly,” said the culinary expert.
She explained that layouts can vary between Trader Joe’s locations, even if they appear similar.
For this reason, visiting a new store allows her to “see with different eyes,” and different items “pop out” that she would not have otherwise noticed at her regular store.
Cherie’s Top 3 Trader Joe’s Products
Culinary expert Cherie Mercer Twohy shared her three favorite items from Trader Joe’s.
- Frozen Puff Pastry: “This winter seasonal item is an all-butter pastry, which is what we want in this flaky, laminated dough.”
- Unexpected Cheddar Cheese: “This product is full of those salty, crispy crystals – tyrosine – that good Parm has. It is my dairy-driven dog’s favorite too.”
- Roasted Oregon Hazelnuts: “Because hazelnuts are my favorites. I’m also from Oregon, and roasting them is a messy process.”
Similarly, not every Trader Joe’s location stocks exactly the same products, so shopping at a novel location might mean you stumble upon your new favorite product.
2. Take advantage of taste tests
Another Trader Joe’s hack that Twohy shared was to make the most of the “try before you buy” policy.
Store employees have permission to open any ready-to-eat item, such as snacks, dips, prepared meals, and more, upon customer request.
Trader Joe’s shoppers can sample from the store’s hundreds of products without spending a dime, the company’s effort to help fans determine if they like a product before buying it.
Twohy encouraged customers to not shy away from this “great” policy, providing an easy means for shoppers to avert regretted purchases and wasted money.
She noted that customers are unable to test alcohol products, vitamins, frozen foods, and items requiring preparation.
3. Like it or get your money back
The Trader Joe’s fanatic’s third tip for hitting the aisles was to test out new products and explore all that the specialty grocer has to offer without fear, as it has a very generous return policy.
The store will generally refund customers for items that they do not like, even if they are opened or used, or the shopper does not have a receipt.
Additionally, there is no official return window, so fans can return products even if the purchase was not recent.
Some Trader Joe’s employees on Reddit have even claimed that the store will accept returns from purchases made years ago.
Similar to the “try before you buy” policy, the lenient return policy is a way to encourage shoppers to explore new products and prevent wasting money on items you don’t like.
However, Twohy warned against taking advantage of the return policy.
“Of course, we don’t want this option to be overused, because that will ruin it for all of us,” said the culinary pro.
Trader Joe’s solid store policies are a crowd pleaser, as are the chain’s weekly drop of new products.
Fans are racing to “snatch up” a new $4.99 “crispy” and “creamy” item which doesn’t look like it seems.
Plus, Trader Joe’s has just launched a new rich night cream for just $9 that shoppers say rivals Estee Lauder’s $135 alternative.
