5 unquestionable reasons Trader Joe's is the best
The greatest thing about going home to the 'burbs for a weekend with your parents is free laundry, parking your car in a garage that doesn't charge for the privilege, and visiting the massive Trader Joe's down the block.
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When this small California-based supermarket chain started in 1958, it was called Pronto Markets. When it changed its name in 1967, it thrust itself into the world of Hawaiian print shirts, naturally flavored sodas and a gaggle of fans who clamor for everything from cookies to condiments.
Here are just a few of the reasons Trader Joe's has managed to stay relevant, cool and delicious since you used a Trapper-Keeper.
1. TJ's just pledged to use cage-free eggs
Trader Joe's is the latest cult favorite to announce it will use only cage-free eggs. It aims to accomplish this goal nationally by 2025, with Western outlets transitioning first by 2020. It's the first major grocery chain (excluding warehouse stores) to do so.
Though its current offerings are already 62% cage-free, this could be a turning point in the quest to have responsibly sourced eggs become the national standard.
2. You're obsessed with Joe-Joe's
Get out of here with your big-box brand sandwich cookies. Joe-Joe's, which come in flavors like candy cane, peanut butter and double chocolate, are offered all the time but the flavors change seasonally.
These sandwich cookies are so beloved they have entire Facebook groups dedicated to their greatness. There are articles debating their greatness or hype. And the tweets just speak for themselves:
3. The employees love the store, too
Trader Joe's employees might not just seem happier than other grocery store employees — they might actually be happier. Workers know at least two weeks in advance what their schedules will be, are cross-trained in multiple positions and have health and vacation benefits, says The Huffington Post.
"Trader Joe's (at least, my store) gives maternal/paternal leave to new parents," a Rhode Island employee wrote in a recent Glassdoor review.
Trader Joe's doesn't just want to sell food, it wants to create a company culture where the employees like working there and have an interest in seeing the company succeed.
4. You can make a meal out of free samples
So many free samples ... and they almost always make us buy a tub of spicy cilantro hummus or a bag of frozen salmon burgers we didn't even know we wanted.
5. The prices are amazing
It's no secret that store brands sell for less than "name" brands. Hey, that's why my sister and I thought everyone on our block ate yellow boxes of "O's" (instead of their cheerier cousin) for breakfast growing up.
Trader Joe's sells almost entirely its own branded food, sourced from well known, more expensive national brands. That's right, if you think your Trader Joe's boxed mac and cheese tastes just like your favorite brand ... you're probably right. And you may be a dollar or two richer since you saved the money by buying the product with the Trader Joe's label instead of the nationally sold one.
What are YOUR reasons why TJ's is the best? Let us know in the comments.
Sarah Spigelman Richter is a contributor to Mashable's Food channel. Sarah covers everything edible, from the food industry to D.I.Y. recipes. She was previously the community manager for Tastemade NYC and her writing has been seen on The Today Show's food blog, Refinery 29, the Food Network, and Gothamist. She has also developed recipes for Tabasco and other nationally recognized brands and has blogged for 5 years at "Fritos and Foie Gras." Sarah is obsessed with "Orphan Black" and chili-cheese Fritos and is still depressed that Loehmann's closed.
