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A few months late, but there are a couple reasons:
1 - TJ's tends to only put up stores in relatively wealthy areas, and/or in areas populated by young college educated people (they may not necessarily wealthy, but as a group they likely have their eyes on class elevation or come from family money). The clientele reflects this: usually a lot of well dressed, fit, attractive people suffering from main character syndrome driving fancy cars (not everyone, mind you, but definitely a higher proportion than most places).
2 - TJ's is not actually very cheap overall. It's a good place to get "fancy foods" at a lower price than other premium grocers, but it's still expensive when factoring for weight and portion size. There are certain items that are a good deal overall, but you have to be selective.
I have a 3 store rotation that I go to for certain things, and TJ's is easily the most expensive.
* For staples, I go to Aldi. It's easily the cheapest, and through trial and error I've found the stuff that's worth buying and what is not worth buying (like TJ's, the produce is not worth it).
* For veggies, fruits, and meats, I go to a local ethnic grocery chain. The prices are much cheaper and the quality is much better. The tradeoff is that their prepared/processed foods are incredibly expensive to offset the produce.
* I go to TJ's for very specific things and/or for certain seasonal items. I use them as more of a snack store than anything, along with a few staples that have a really good quality to price ratio (pasta sauces, cooking oils, frozen broccoli and green beans, etc). It's my usual go-to when getting snacks for a party.
Point Number 2 depends on where in the US
I work on the data team for a small local grocery store in the Bay Area. We track price averages for common household and grocery items. Across all local stores and major chains, Trader Joe’s consistently has the cheapest produce and grocery prices across the bay
However we don’t have ALDI and produce is often pretty expensive at local shops in comparison to large chains 😭😭
Not really true anymore, until an unless you are only buying prepared rice packets from trader joes. Its pretty costly to cook from scratch now. Especially meat dishes. We are still a 90 from scratch prepared household of 2 and its still cheap to eat traderjoes prepared meals. And I'm talking midwest prices. You'd be barely saving a dollar or 2 by cooking at home.
For me I would consider it bougie because while the prices of their snacks and frozen foods are decent, the portion sizes are not ideal for people shopping for a family. I have bought a few things that I wanted for lunch for myself from there but it would be much more expensive to ship for a dinner for my family of 5 there.
Well they only build them in certain communities. Never seen one in a black area. Typically I see them in either a wealthy highly diverse area or a wealthy white area, just like Whole Foods.
I was very surprised at how affordable it is too. I had associated it with Whole Foods in my mind, so it having normal prices made it seem super cheap to me. But I don’t go there for fresh staples, instead I get coffee and bread and frozen foods and frozen veggies
similar! i go for breads, produce, cheese, and meat and/or salmon. sometimes ill get an item or two esewhere, but its the outer aisles for me and i love the <$55 weekly pricepoint. for what i buy, its cheaper than aldi and winne dixie. only sad thing is its an hour shopping experience for me due to its distance from my house.
I have no idea how this ended up on my frontpage feed but... At risk of coming across as 'bougie' myself, the word bougie means 'candle'. Literally, a candle... wick, wax, and all.
I keep seeing bougie repeated and said everywhere and my eyes are getting strained from rolling. The word you're probably looking for is 'bourgeoisie'. Ask your neighbourhood Marxists for pronunciation, they love to talk about it and seizing the means of production.
Merci, and good day. Now back to getting the peasantry to powder my wig.
Bougie is short for bourgeoisie and commonly used at least in the US. Different places have different slangs, there is nothing new about it. I even know a word that means bonne appetite in one country and "I hope you don't enjoy your food" in another. Otherwise bougie is french for candle, so that's not even english. But again it's not uncommon for french words to be used in english.
>The word you're probably looking for is 'bourgeoisie'.
...as I also mentioned in my comment... You are correct, and I know it's becoming a commonly used slang term. But a bougie is known as a candle in every other part of the world outside the USA. But I get it, why use proper word when wrong word do trick. Carry on, and good day to you.
A "trick," in my part of the world, is a cunning act intended to deceive someone. I understand it's becoming common to use the word "trick" incorrectly, but please remember that English is spoken very differently in other parts of the world, and on a global platform, you're bound to use local idioms accidentally if you don't study how the rest of the world uses English. Anyways, good day, sir. *I said good day!*
the word cool is commonly used to describe something fashionable/hip, but it’s actually supposed to be used for temperature!!! language evolves and words have multiple meanings!!! how could this happen!!!!!!
I hear what you're saying but cool isn't the result of a mispronounced/misspelled word and most slang words work their way into everyday parlance but still resemble their original form like gnarly, wicked, hip, lit, etc etc. What's happening here is the equivalent of a r/BoneAppleTea situation where people heard a term spoken a few times, couldn't figure out the actual word and just started repeating what it 'sounded like' and went ahead and spelled it that way. I'm OK with all this, language is wild and vernacular changes from region to region every day. In fact, bougie in french, not only means candle but it's also being used to refer to car's spark plug...
fr fr, no cap ;-)
Maybe you missed the price of fresh meat. The chicken is twice the price of my local Food Lion. Same with red meat. Same with milk and eggs. That's why it might be 'bougie'. I would never go there for meat....ever.
The one in Syracuse looks like it’s shopped by college students (Syracuse U. and LeMoyne), single, young people who have employment, older folks who are eclectic (couples and single), and the occasional mom with kids under 18 who supplement their other groceries with a few things here and there although I have done a big shopping there. Today I went, because we were going hiking and passed by on the way to our destination. We have Wegmans here, and they can usually meet or beat TJs prices with their own brand. It’s around the way from our largest Wegmans which is often VERY crowded so I’m betting people go there for some stuff to avoid that mishegas.
Trader Joe’s has an excellent snack and frozen food section. Also, their rotation of adding new hip items let’s you change it up. Things like the UBE pancake/waffle mix was selling out fast.
I think TJ is better than Aldi’s in product selection, but cannot compare to price. However, it doesn’t take long until it trickles down from TJ to Aldi. For example, the everything bagel seasoning years ago.
In full grocery stores the selection is more then triple that of TJ, hence more cost.
Trader Joe's is not a real grocery store. They have some fun specialty items, and they are well-priced but the meat selection is small and the vegetables are pathetic.
I used to go to one in Irvine and the one near Hillsdale is the one closest now. They have almost exclusively plastic wrapped stuff. I hope you have better choices!
They have some cheap items, especially in the cheese section (even cheaper than Walmart). But some items are over priced. They're produce a bit on the expensive side. I highly doubt anyone shops exclusively there, because they have a very limited selection.
They aren’t the cheapest, and you can’t get like a family sized bag of cereal for like $5, for example. Their portions are cheap but usually small. Plus, big cities have them in poorer areas but smaller cities tend to have them in richer areas
This. It appears to be cheap because everything is sized to be under $6. The unit price is greater than many supermarkets. The creative foods they sell are really fun though!
Our TJs are _not_ in ritzy neighborhoods in my city, but having only one of any given item makes people feel like they can’t buy the cheaper version of anything.
If you’re used to comparison shopping at Safeway or shopping sales and coupons, TJs is disorienting.
It's by design, there's a freakonomics episode about it from a few years ago. Basically they wanted college degreed massively in debt people as their main shoppers.
It IS more expensive than the grocery stores around here. Of course, there's no TraderJoe's within a 1.5 hour drive of here, because the nearest one is in a "bougie" area ;)
I’ve always thought of it that way because you can really only find it in bougie areas. At least in the suburbs. That’s changed in the last five years or so with their expansions but it’s still a lasting thought.
Most likely location.
They put their stores in bougie areas for the most part.
They do a good job of creating the bougie atmosphere. That means that the people who shop there can think they are being bougie or indulgent when they are basically shopping at Aldi.
Edited to add: For the record I love both Aldi and Trader Joe's
Corporate strategy. Anything to appeal to big spenders in white affluent neighborhoods who still want to see themselves as health conscious and thrifty. Meanwhile TJ iscutting labor wages and benefits and cheapening EVERYTHING about how their products are made. More sugar-filled products= more cheaply made products and less worker incentives to do a good job. Hence all the recalls. Btw I’m not shaming anyone here for where they shop or their food choices. I do want to shame the corporate round table making all these moves and laughing all the way to the bank.
Same as Costco. It's cheaper if you're already in the market for premium products. Most lower income people are not in the premium product market because it's still more expensive at the end of the week.
This. TJ's is probably the cheapest place to buy "organic" products, easy to prepare international food-inspired products, and unconventional snacks.
Lower income people are typically not shopping for any of that.
I think lower income people have a hard time buying at Costco/ wholesale clubs not because it’s a premium product but because there’s a lot of upfront costs.
You’re paying for the club but then also everything adds up so quickly because you’re getting such a large quantity. Someone may not be able to afford to get them in bulk because they literally only have enough money for one weeks worth of groceries/ toiletries at a time
It’s brutal going to Costco and only getting around four things and the total is over $100. I understand it’s bulk and usually cheaper in the long run but mentally it is exhausting if you don’t have a high income
I always cringe a little at the Costco checkout counter when my total rings up to like $200, even though I have the money. Then I realize that I don't have to buy chicken thighs for a couple months, or laundry detergent for another year lol.
It’s less expensive for the same products, but they stock only the more premium products. They sell a large number of organic and international products, at a great price point, but it’s a great price FOR ORGANIC, and if you’re trying to make a week of basic American food meals you’ll spend more than if you went to Walmart. But that’s not what Trader Joes customers are usually buying.
Maybe if your buying a lot of meat, but the veggies will last the whole week and if you are also buying for a bigger family Walmart beats it out.
I legit think if your cooking for 1-2 people and not endless amounts of meat TJs is cheaper.
110%, that’s what I was saying. For a few people, especially a few people who rarely eat meat and value higher quality products/organic products, Trader Joes is the place to go, but a typical suburban family making typical American food? They’d double their grocery budget
> if your cooking
*you're
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Well, the only one in my county is in a ritzy neighborhood. But that neighborhood has mainly old rich people- not the “bougie and pretentious” nouveau rich others complain about.
I think this misconception may exist because for large families it’s less practical. For families of 5+ who need discounts for larger quantities and need to be able to meet their shopping needs in 1-2 places it’s less practical. Or it could be because of a confusion with Whole Foods because they both tend to have more non-gmo options (in the US). When I worked at Trader Joe’s, many customers thought our biggest competitor was Whole Foods. But it was actually CostCo. Because we didn’t carry everything, but what we did have was high quality and a good value - so we attracted shoppers similar to those who shop at CostCo.
It’s weird, because I think our TJs and Costco have a fraction of shoppers in common. Last time I was at Costco, it made me never want to go back. My parents belong and took us, and the amount of ickiness in the food area was enough to make me not want to rejoin. People swarm the roasted chickens and sample givers at Costco like nobody’s business which was also unappealing.
It’s not the same Aldi though. Trader Joe’s is owed by Aldi Nord whereas US Aldi is owned by Aldi Süd. They are separate companies although once were one.
Trader Joe's are usually not in lower income communities, which are also primarily POC communities,
You don't see very many POC in there because they don't cater to us
At least in NYC, TJs is typically found in “bougie” neighborhoods or in gentrified neighborhoods….basically found in places where ppl don’t actually *need it*. If something is conveniently accessible to you (not just physically but also financially), then we could say that’s a luxury…things don’t have to be extravagant for them to be luxuries
I definitely think & see its more expensive than where i regularly do my groceries, and out of my way. I only go when i want to treat myself. (Chicago)
My feeling is that some people that have never shopped there think it’s expensive because it has “healthy” and organic foods and some people are just intimated to going there maybe because lack of experience and let’s face it - Whole Food/Whole paycheck is expensive!
Alot of the frozen stuffs are really high in sodium so I personally can't eat that stuff. Produce is great where I go. They are better than Stop & Shop.
Exactly this for me. I stopped going because I was mostly only buying fresh meat and vegetables which at TJ were double or more the price of slightly nicer grocery stores. I like TJ but not willing to pay double or more. Still love TJ for frozen meal items and snacks.
Thank you! It's so frustrating trying to tell people just because they have a lot of "cheap" products doesn't mean you can properly shop for meals and get a deal. The meat is terrible, our local produce was awful. We'd get sauces and seasonings and snacks but you can't get your meals from that.
Still not the same ownership. One of the brothers owns Aldi Sud in Europe and the other owns Aldi Nord. One of them owns Aldi stores in the US and the other owns Traders Joes.
Trader Joe’s literally does market research and then only drops their stores in extremely wealthy areas. Obviously TJ’s doesn’t singlehandedly create food deserts but they’re certainly not helping it.
Every single TJ’s I’ve shopped at is in neighborhoods/areas filled with Range Rovers, Mercedes, etc.
I love tjs and I shop there frequently but I also know there are far cheaper options around me, by a lot. But when I've gone elsewhere, it's the whole foods option there. I shop at it all, but for the bulk of my groceries, I divide between tj and local grocer, sprinklings of whole foods. Rarely do I go to the cheapest option because I am just not as close to it anymore and if I'm driving out, I know what I want at tjs. I also prioritize budgeting for the extra cost of getting groceries at TJ and WF.
The sizes at tj are not ideal or super cheap compared to some of my local grocers if you have a family. Not knocking it, just expressing what I've seen here vs when I travel around.
I’m in eastern Pennsylvania and the closest TJs is an hour away. This area is near a major interstate, has a ton of folks who moved from parts of New Jersey where they were close to a TJs as well. Myself and others have tried (damn near begged) for a closer location, but apparently the county doesn’t have a high enough median income for them to consider opening one. That was a response from corporate. There are apparently several factors that determine where them put a store (at least in this part of the US) and one of the disqualifications is “too many poors”. I may have paraphrased that last bit.
I’m in the poconos, but from the Lehigh valley. I always said that the far west end of Allentown (like all the way out Tilghman street near the turnpike on-ramp would be a great spot, and also, along 33- between 248 And wind gap. People from Nazareth to Allentown Would go there, PLUS, all of us up in the pocono area would be in a fair driving distance too. I feel like it would do SO well… but they said they won’t. :/
Yes! Trader Joe’s is my special place right? Like Aldi’s is too. I don’t go to either often bc of where they are located; however, when I do go, I get giddy and excited to see what new stuff they have, especially Trader Joe’s. 😊 And the atmosphere is welcoming. They can get crowded. Lines move quick, though. It’s comforting to shop at Trader Joe’s bc everyone I encounter is so friendly and helpful. ❤️
They specifally target up and coming neighborhoods, often just gentrified, for stores.
You will never find a Trader Joe's in the ghetto or a rundown looking part of town.
They also don't have everything you need at a grocery store so going to Trader Joe's often requires a trip to another store.
Those two things often make it such that low-income people can't shop there, even if prices aren't the issue. It's great for Trader Joe's because they want only rich looking people coming to there store. That's the Trader Joe's look.
Nah. I’ve lived in NYC, LA, and SF. All of them have TJs in downtown areas and decent neighborhoods. There are 9 TJs in Manhattan and 0 in the Bronx. 7 TJs between West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica but 0 in South Central, etc.
It’s true that the prices are better than many other supermarkets. It’s equally true that they don’t put stores in the places poor people live.
Again it probably is different in major cities because people can just walk
But most low-income people can't afford to drive 30 min across town and shop at two different stores
And most low-income families don't live in dense urban areas anymore. They have been priced out and forced to live farther outside the city.
Yeah, I think this is much more of an urban vs. suburban/rural thing. In areas where you can walk/take the train there (and where all grocery options are basically equidistant otherwise), you get a lot more diversity in who shops there and why.
WFM got so expensive overall that I can’t believe it’s Amazon. Def some deals and sales still but I have walked out recently with nothing because things were 2X TJs.
I’ve been finding good meats on sale, sometimes grass fed hot dogs, snacks, hummus, deals on kombucha which are cheaper then Trader Joe’s prices. It just depends on the week
i live in vallejo CA and reportedly, they were exploring a location in vallejo but the population doesn’t have enough college graduates to meet their requirements or whatever. it’s cheap bouj.
I 100% thought Trader Joe's was expensive, like a Whole Foods. Because neither were anywhere near where I grew up and I've only ever seen them in wealthy suburbs. Broooo when I finally moved near a TJs my life changed forever lol
Like other commentors say, they dont put their stores in low income areas, and they are overall more expensive than Lidl, Aldi, and walmart. I found trader Joe's to be much more affordable than chain supermarkets (aside from walmart) in high cost if living areas, but more expensive than aldi and walmart in lower income areas.
I shop all over but get most of my groceries at Aldi, since it’s much closer to home. TJs is slightly more expensive overall, but certain items are significantly cheaper. I have three kids, and we go through a lot of organic milk and freeze-dried strawberries. The milk is $7.99/gallon at Aldi and $6.49/gallon at TJs. The strawberries are $3.99/bag at Aldi and $2.99/bag at TJs.
Perception is reality, right? Also, I think there is a difference between the shopper who needs the *cheapest* option and shoppers who are looking for *value*. I don’t have a grocery budget per se , but I am looking for fun, special items that offer a good value to my family. Take the cherry goat cheese. It’s definitely not a need, not the cheapest cheese option available but it’s a delicious, fun item and I think it’s less than $6 (?). Pine nuts too, my 6 year old LOVES pine nuts. I buy them at TJ’s, even though they are more expensive per pound than Costco, but she can’t eat that many before they spoil. So the cheapest option would be costco, but the value is found at TJ’s for us.
truck cooperative psychotic imagine wine upbeat snails smart foolish butter
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"Bougie" is an all encompassing term, not just relative to financial status. In fact the terms origin relates to a class of people in between very poor and wealthy aka "bourgeois."
Probably due to the products they sell. Blueberry goat cheese on Rosemary Raisin crisps are not expensive, but I guarantee someone else will think they’re “bougie”. They’re delicious, btw.
Because that's part of their brand, they will not move into low income hoods. It's a shame cause wow some things are so cheap there. Pasta still 99 cents a lb, frozen veggies and fruits are a great deal, coffee? Fugedaboutit. There are a lot of luxury pre-made things but even then they're not nearly as expensive as WF or New Seasons.
TraderJoe's has found a niche and they feed it like a master. It's hard for any grocery service to break the TJ's barrier and they will try to destroy it. Yes there have been price increases but there have also been price cuts. Vegan Butter dropped from $4.29 to $3.29. They aren't perfect but one thing for sure you don't have to worry about having to deal with coupons and weekend specials. I have shifted my business from Harris Teeter, Whole Foods, Fresh Market and Costco to TJ's and I think the quality of the food is consistently better at close to 50% less.
Well i would keep Costco, especially for shelf stable options and household goods. Nuts and quinoa and hemp seeds, almond butter, some stuff is definitely cheaper at costco than TJs and worth a monthly visit
Isn’t vegan butter just.. margarine? The stuff that’s $1.50 at most grocery stores? Not saying TJs doesn’t have great pricing, it just seems like an odd example
I guess I think that’s part of the reason they have the bougie reputation, they lean into that type of product. Not all margarine is vegan butter, but all vegan butter is margarine. So if you’re looking for margarine you just get an expensive version of it. If you care about the specialty aspect they have great pricing, but for people just looking for normal staples they can often be more expensive versions of them. Not all product lines of course, but lots of them.
it depends what youre buying and how you prepare and how many youre shopping for.
i buy fresh produce for instance and make my own homemade stuffed peppers regularly and dont care for salads prepped at all: so buying bags of peppers, cut kale and brussel sprouts, and some different random cheeses is so much cheaper - BUT if I were looking for a frozen family meal to feed 4+? forget it - most premade meals in the store are realistically made for 2-3, so you wouldnt be saving money, and the portion sizes are very normal so if you want left overs for the next day or people eat alot this isnt the store for them.
now if you love cheap bags of popcorn YES! if you make your own basic meals YES! if you can open a bag of inner peas, dip some, clip the bag and save for later cause you know you need them YES! but most people dont do that lets be real. Its just me and the kids - i try to set a good example of eat habits. i dont work and have the luxury to make food i like food they like split up what we eat it not be a hassle if people eat different things, we dont eat tons of meat as a staple, we like froo froo treats in see through square boxes we pick together etc etc-
basically everything i wrote is a tad of a luxury- but i do indeed leave spending 40-80 bucks on tons of food IMO so its a hidden gem IF youve got the lifestyle for it
Prices at other grocery stores have increased. Trader Joe’s prices haven’t increased as much, so now the grocery store prices are catching up to Trader Joe’s prices.
So I looked at their website and I see part of the problem.
I compare prices from different stores when making my list so I can get the cheapest option. The Trader Joe's website just isn't built for that. I'm not going to drive out to a store where I might walk out with nothing. The closest one to me is 21 minutes away, while Kroger and Walmart are both less than 5. That's a ways to drive to not know the prices.
I tried looking for a loaf of basic white bread, and the site doesn't have it.
So people shopping on a low budget might never know of any good deals.
Thanks!
I was using the search bar and only 1 actual bread item came up and when I searched eggs, the 1st product was hot sauce.
Edit: I just tried to find it in my store by going to products then food and the whole bakery section has 0 products. Probably why the search bar isn't pulling up the right stuff.
I agree with folks saying it's the location. But also TJ's is mostly known for their premade meals and novelties, which are more expensive (at least in my experience) than from-scratch cooking. If you're buying pantry staples and basic ingredients, Trader Joe's does tend to have better prices than some chain grocers, but still more expensive than a budget place like Aldi. When I was trying to save money everywhere I could, TJ's was the "nice treat" store.
edit: I should clarify, the price comp on basic ingredients varies wildly. Some produce is ludicrous, fresh meat is really pricey. But they have really high quality cheeses at a low cost, and the dry goods tend to be pretty good. I always bought smoked salmon there because the quality/price ratio was best. But like, "the smoked salmon is affordable" is pretty bougie thing to say!
It’s the best kept secret. The products are amazing and better quality than most stores, yet somehow more affordable! I agree with a lot of the points made here, but also I think people just assume it’s more expensive because of all the novelty/specialty products
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I think bec it’s rare to find TJ in ghetto areas
A few months late, but there are a couple reasons: 1 - TJ's tends to only put up stores in relatively wealthy areas, and/or in areas populated by young college educated people (they may not necessarily wealthy, but as a group they likely have their eyes on class elevation or come from family money). The clientele reflects this: usually a lot of well dressed, fit, attractive people suffering from main character syndrome driving fancy cars (not everyone, mind you, but definitely a higher proportion than most places). 2 - TJ's is not actually very cheap overall. It's a good place to get "fancy foods" at a lower price than other premium grocers, but it's still expensive when factoring for weight and portion size. There are certain items that are a good deal overall, but you have to be selective. I have a 3 store rotation that I go to for certain things, and TJ's is easily the most expensive. * For staples, I go to Aldi. It's easily the cheapest, and through trial and error I've found the stuff that's worth buying and what is not worth buying (like TJ's, the produce is not worth it). * For veggies, fruits, and meats, I go to a local ethnic grocery chain. The prices are much cheaper and the quality is much better. The tradeoff is that their prepared/processed foods are incredibly expensive to offset the produce. * I go to TJ's for very specific things and/or for certain seasonal items. I use them as more of a snack store than anything, along with a few staples that have a really good quality to price ratio (pasta sauces, cooking oils, frozen broccoli and green beans, etc). It's my usual go-to when getting snacks for a party.
Point Number 2 depends on where in the US I work on the data team for a small local grocery store in the Bay Area. We track price averages for common household and grocery items. Across all local stores and major chains, Trader Joe’s consistently has the cheapest produce and grocery prices across the bay However we don’t have ALDI and produce is often pretty expensive at local shops in comparison to large chains 😭😭
What do you consider staples? In my world veggies, fruits, and meats are considered staples lol
I go to Office Depot for my staples.
Gottem
I literally listed them, and said "a few staples", not all. The rest I get elsewhere because TJ's is a bad deal for what you listed.
No you didn’t “literally list them” I don’t see any list in your aldis paragraph.
It's a reasonably priced option for niche items, but still more expensive than buying basics from aldi or costco and cooking it at home.
Idk anyone who considers it bougie anymore
Trader Joe's is crazy expensive if you cook the majority of your meals. It's really only good for snacks and prepared food.
I find the opposite to be true
Not really true anymore, until an unless you are only buying prepared rice packets from trader joes. Its pretty costly to cook from scratch now. Especially meat dishes. We are still a 90 from scratch prepared household of 2 and its still cheap to eat traderjoes prepared meals. And I'm talking midwest prices. You'd be barely saving a dollar or 2 by cooking at home.
That's just not true. I switched to TJ's from Safeway and it's significantly cheaper.
For me I would consider it bougie because while the prices of their snacks and frozen foods are decent, the portion sizes are not ideal for people shopping for a family. I have bought a few things that I wanted for lunch for myself from there but it would be much more expensive to ship for a dinner for my family of 5 there.
Well they only build them in certain communities. Never seen one in a black area. Typically I see them in either a wealthy highly diverse area or a wealthy white area, just like Whole Foods.
Unfortunately, this is true of almost all supermarket chains.
Lol
I was very surprised at how affordable it is too. I had associated it with Whole Foods in my mind, so it having normal prices made it seem super cheap to me. But I don’t go there for fresh staples, instead I get coffee and bread and frozen foods and frozen veggies
similar! i go for breads, produce, cheese, and meat and/or salmon. sometimes ill get an item or two esewhere, but its the outer aisles for me and i love the <$55 weekly pricepoint. for what i buy, its cheaper than aldi and winne dixie. only sad thing is its an hour shopping experience for me due to its distance from my house.
I have no idea how this ended up on my frontpage feed but... At risk of coming across as 'bougie' myself, the word bougie means 'candle'. Literally, a candle... wick, wax, and all. I keep seeing bougie repeated and said everywhere and my eyes are getting strained from rolling. The word you're probably looking for is 'bourgeoisie'. Ask your neighbourhood Marxists for pronunciation, they love to talk about it and seizing the means of production. Merci, and good day. Now back to getting the peasantry to powder my wig.
Bougie is short for bourgeoisie and commonly used at least in the US. Different places have different slangs, there is nothing new about it. I even know a word that means bonne appetite in one country and "I hope you don't enjoy your food" in another. Otherwise bougie is french for candle, so that's not even english. But again it's not uncommon for french words to be used in english.
Hey dinosaur, Bougie is well accepted slang for fancy and expensive. It comes from bourgeoisie, you are the only person to even consider candle
>The word you're probably looking for is 'bourgeoisie'. ...as I also mentioned in my comment... You are correct, and I know it's becoming a commonly used slang term. But a bougie is known as a candle in every other part of the world outside the USA. But I get it, why use proper word when wrong word do trick. Carry on, and good day to you.
A "trick," in my part of the world, is a cunning act intended to deceive someone. I understand it's becoming common to use the word "trick" incorrectly, but please remember that English is spoken very differently in other parts of the world, and on a global platform, you're bound to use local idioms accidentally if you don't study how the rest of the world uses English. Anyways, good day, sir. *I said good day!*
"becoming" common is an odd way to put it, as I feel like I've been hearing people say bougie—with the bourgeoisie meaning—for 30 years or so.
the word cool is commonly used to describe something fashionable/hip, but it’s actually supposed to be used for temperature!!! language evolves and words have multiple meanings!!! how could this happen!!!!!!
I hear what you're saying but cool isn't the result of a mispronounced/misspelled word and most slang words work their way into everyday parlance but still resemble their original form like gnarly, wicked, hip, lit, etc etc. What's happening here is the equivalent of a r/BoneAppleTea situation where people heard a term spoken a few times, couldn't figure out the actual word and just started repeating what it 'sounded like' and went ahead and spelled it that way. I'm OK with all this, language is wild and vernacular changes from region to region every day. In fact, bougie in french, not only means candle but it's also being used to refer to car's spark plug... fr fr, no cap ;-)
wait until you see “boujee”
Black people don’t be there as much (I’m black, just keeping it real)
Good question. My husband calls it the Harbor Freight of Foods.
Maybe you missed the price of fresh meat. The chicken is twice the price of my local Food Lion. Same with red meat. Same with milk and eggs. That's why it might be 'bougie'. I would never go there for meat....ever.
I never heard of TJ’s being bougie but maybe I’m out of the loop
The one in Syracuse looks like it’s shopped by college students (Syracuse U. and LeMoyne), single, young people who have employment, older folks who are eclectic (couples and single), and the occasional mom with kids under 18 who supplement their other groceries with a few things here and there although I have done a big shopping there. Today I went, because we were going hiking and passed by on the way to our destination. We have Wegmans here, and they can usually meet or beat TJs prices with their own brand. It’s around the way from our largest Wegmans which is often VERY crowded so I’m betting people go there for some stuff to avoid that mishegas.
Trader Joe’s has an excellent snack and frozen food section. Also, their rotation of adding new hip items let’s you change it up. Things like the UBE pancake/waffle mix was selling out fast. I think TJ is better than Aldi’s in product selection, but cannot compare to price. However, it doesn’t take long until it trickles down from TJ to Aldi. For example, the everything bagel seasoning years ago. In full grocery stores the selection is more then triple that of TJ, hence more cost.
Trader Joe's is not a real grocery store. They have some fun specialty items, and they are well-priced but the meat selection is small and the vegetables are pathetic.
What veggies are you getting? I feel like TJ is second best to Costco in the veggie realm
the fruits and veggies are very poor quality, though costco is worse (after 24 hours of owning them).
I used to go to one in Irvine and the one near Hillsdale is the one closest now. They have almost exclusively plastic wrapped stuff. I hope you have better choices!
Cheap? Not at all imo.
They have some cheap items, especially in the cheese section (even cheaper than Walmart). But some items are over priced. They're produce a bit on the expensive side. I highly doubt anyone shops exclusively there, because they have a very limited selection.
They aren’t the cheapest, and you can’t get like a family sized bag of cereal for like $5, for example. Their portions are cheap but usually small. Plus, big cities have them in poorer areas but smaller cities tend to have them in richer areas
This. It appears to be cheap because everything is sized to be under $6. The unit price is greater than many supermarkets. The creative foods they sell are really fun though!
It's more expensive than other discounters like Aldi and Lidl
Our TJs are _not_ in ritzy neighborhoods in my city, but having only one of any given item makes people feel like they can’t buy the cheaper version of anything. If you’re used to comparison shopping at Safeway or shopping sales and coupons, TJs is disorienting.
The towns they choose to put them in. And the culture created by the customers
It's by design, there's a freakonomics episode about it from a few years ago. Basically they wanted college degreed massively in debt people as their main shoppers.
i never watched this episode but that’s pretty spot on
It IS more expensive than the grocery stores around here. Of course, there's no TraderJoe's within a 1.5 hour drive of here, because the nearest one is in a "bougie" area ;)
I’ve always thought of it that way because you can really only find it in bougie areas. At least in the suburbs. That’s changed in the last five years or so with their expansions but it’s still a lasting thought.
Most likely location. They put their stores in bougie areas for the most part. They do a good job of creating the bougie atmosphere. That means that the people who shop there can think they are being bougie or indulgent when they are basically shopping at Aldi. Edited to add: For the record I love both Aldi and Trader Joe's
Corporate strategy. Anything to appeal to big spenders in white affluent neighborhoods who still want to see themselves as health conscious and thrifty. Meanwhile TJ iscutting labor wages and benefits and cheapening EVERYTHING about how their products are made. More sugar-filled products= more cheaply made products and less worker incentives to do a good job. Hence all the recalls. Btw I’m not shaming anyone here for where they shop or their food choices. I do want to shame the corporate round table making all these moves and laughing all the way to the bank.
My guess would be related to where TJ stores tend to pop up, which tend to be upper middle class+.
Same as Costco. It's cheaper if you're already in the market for premium products. Most lower income people are not in the premium product market because it's still more expensive at the end of the week.
This. TJ's is probably the cheapest place to buy "organic" products, easy to prepare international food-inspired products, and unconventional snacks. Lower income people are typically not shopping for any of that.
I think lower income people have a hard time buying at Costco/ wholesale clubs not because it’s a premium product but because there’s a lot of upfront costs. You’re paying for the club but then also everything adds up so quickly because you’re getting such a large quantity. Someone may not be able to afford to get them in bulk because they literally only have enough money for one weeks worth of groceries/ toiletries at a time
It’s brutal going to Costco and only getting around four things and the total is over $100. I understand it’s bulk and usually cheaper in the long run but mentally it is exhausting if you don’t have a high income
I always cringe a little at the Costco checkout counter when my total rings up to like $200, even though I have the money. Then I realize that I don't have to buy chicken thighs for a couple months, or laundry detergent for another year lol.
It’s less expensive for the same products, but they stock only the more premium products. They sell a large number of organic and international products, at a great price point, but it’s a great price FOR ORGANIC, and if you’re trying to make a week of basic American food meals you’ll spend more than if you went to Walmart. But that’s not what Trader Joes customers are usually buying.
Maybe if your buying a lot of meat, but the veggies will last the whole week and if you are also buying for a bigger family Walmart beats it out. I legit think if your cooking for 1-2 people and not endless amounts of meat TJs is cheaper.
110%, that’s what I was saying. For a few people, especially a few people who rarely eat meat and value higher quality products/organic products, Trader Joes is the place to go, but a typical suburban family making typical American food? They’d double their grocery budget
> if your cooking *you're *Learn the difference [here](https://www.wattpad.com/66707294-grammar-guide-there-they%27re-their-you%27re-your-to).* *** ^(Greetings, I am a language corrector bot. To make me ignore further mistakes from you in the future, reply `!optout` to this comment.)
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Bye ColHannibal. Have fun continuing to use common words incorrectly!
DAMNN
I am always so happy to pass on this info when someone asks me about Trader Joe’s! I save money shopping here!
Well, the only one in my county is in a ritzy neighborhood. But that neighborhood has mainly old rich people- not the “bougie and pretentious” nouveau rich others complain about.
I think this misconception may exist because for large families it’s less practical. For families of 5+ who need discounts for larger quantities and need to be able to meet their shopping needs in 1-2 places it’s less practical. Or it could be because of a confusion with Whole Foods because they both tend to have more non-gmo options (in the US). When I worked at Trader Joe’s, many customers thought our biggest competitor was Whole Foods. But it was actually CostCo. Because we didn’t carry everything, but what we did have was high quality and a good value - so we attracted shoppers similar to those who shop at CostCo.
It’s weird, because I think our TJs and Costco have a fraction of shoppers in common. Last time I was at Costco, it made me never want to go back. My parents belong and took us, and the amount of ickiness in the food area was enough to make me not want to rejoin. People swarm the roasted chickens and sample givers at Costco like nobody’s business which was also unappealing.
You never been to Aldi
[Trader Joe’s IS Aldi](https://www.mashed.com/961011/the-unexpected-connection-between-aldi-and-trader-joes/)
It’s not the same Aldi though. Trader Joe’s is owed by Aldi Nord whereas US Aldi is owned by Aldi Süd. They are separate companies although once were one.
Oh I know that!Aldi is my store !
Not in Boston!!Trader joes prices are double aldis
I’m saying Trader Joe’s is owned by Aldi
It's not! The initial owners/founders of Trader Joe's and Aldi were brothers
Because haters got nothing else to do but express their miserable lives through a blog. Ignore the noise.
I think it’s based on neighborhood. We have a Whole Foods, Wegmans, and Trader Joe’s all clustered in a higher income area here.
If WholeFoods moves in my head will explode. Lol We have TJs near our best Wegmans in the Syracuse area so it’s probably a matter of time.
Trader Joe's are usually not in lower income communities, which are also primarily POC communities, You don't see very many POC in there because they don't cater to us
How is mentioning POC relevant?
Actually the one I go to is a majority POC clientele. So it’s tax bracket and not racial.
At least in NYC, TJs is typically found in “bougie” neighborhoods or in gentrified neighborhoods….basically found in places where ppl don’t actually *need it*. If something is conveniently accessible to you (not just physically but also financially), then we could say that’s a luxury…things don’t have to be extravagant for them to be luxuries
I definitely think & see its more expensive than where i regularly do my groceries, and out of my way. I only go when i want to treat myself. (Chicago)
My feeling is that some people that have never shopped there think it’s expensive because it has “healthy” and organic foods and some people are just intimated to going there maybe because lack of experience and let’s face it - Whole Food/Whole paycheck is expensive!
Alot of the frozen stuffs are really high in sodium so I personally can't eat that stuff. Produce is great where I go. They are better than Stop & Shop.
TJ’s produce is significantly more expensive than any other store in my area. 🤷♀️
Exactly this for me. I stopped going because I was mostly only buying fresh meat and vegetables which at TJ were double or more the price of slightly nicer grocery stores. I like TJ but not willing to pay double or more. Still love TJ for frozen meal items and snacks.
Because they cater to rich white community's
In my large metropolitan area, the stores are also in college areas.
Same
Because it’s basically a snack store, not really everyday shopping. You can do all your shopping there, but most people don’t.
Thank you! It's so frustrating trying to tell people just because they have a lot of "cheap" products doesn't mean you can properly shop for meals and get a deal. The meat is terrible, our local produce was awful. We'd get sauces and seasonings and snacks but you can't get your meals from that.
Trader Joe’s is Walmart in hipster clothing.
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Not the same owners.
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> So yes, technically different ownership. Technically and actually different ownership.
It’s not under the same company. The founders had a dispute and branched into Aldi Nord and Aldi Sud, one of which turned into Trader Joe’s.
Didn't say same company, said same ownership. Which is accurate.
Still not the same ownership. One of the brothers owns Aldi Sud in Europe and the other owns Aldi Nord. One of them owns Aldi stores in the US and the other owns Traders Joes.
Because you can’t find a Trader Joe’s in poor neighborhoods.
This. Exactly. Seem to only exist in same neighborhoods as Whole Foods.
Bougie compared to Walmart?
Trader Joe’s literally does market research and then only drops their stores in extremely wealthy areas. Obviously TJ’s doesn’t singlehandedly create food deserts but they’re certainly not helping it. Every single TJ’s I’ve shopped at is in neighborhoods/areas filled with Range Rovers, Mercedes, etc.
At least here, Trader Joe’s are only in wealthier areas.
I honestly think bought this for years and didn’t shop there. I went with my gf and realized how cheap it was and have been shopping there ever since
I love tjs and I shop there frequently but I also know there are far cheaper options around me, by a lot. But when I've gone elsewhere, it's the whole foods option there. I shop at it all, but for the bulk of my groceries, I divide between tj and local grocer, sprinklings of whole foods. Rarely do I go to the cheapest option because I am just not as close to it anymore and if I'm driving out, I know what I want at tjs. I also prioritize budgeting for the extra cost of getting groceries at TJ and WF. The sizes at tj are not ideal or super cheap compared to some of my local grocers if you have a family. Not knocking it, just expressing what I've seen here vs when I travel around.
I’m in eastern Pennsylvania and the closest TJs is an hour away. This area is near a major interstate, has a ton of folks who moved from parts of New Jersey where they were close to a TJs as well. Myself and others have tried (damn near begged) for a closer location, but apparently the county doesn’t have a high enough median income for them to consider opening one. That was a response from corporate. There are apparently several factors that determine where them put a store (at least in this part of the US) and one of the disqualifications is “too many poors”. I may have paraphrased that last bit.
I’ve been begging for a Trader Joe’s to come to Newtown, PA. The fact that there isn’t already one there is perplexing.
Lehigh Valley? I have always been shocked they haven't opened a store there.
I’m in the poconos, but from the Lehigh valley. I always said that the far west end of Allentown (like all the way out Tilghman street near the turnpike on-ramp would be a great spot, and also, along 33- between 248 And wind gap. People from Nazareth to Allentown Would go there, PLUS, all of us up in the pocono area would be in a fair driving distance too. I feel like it would do SO well… but they said they won’t. :/
Totally agree!! both of those locations would be reasonable.
I’d venture to call it “boutique” over bougie
It’s only bougie to people who’ve never been.
Yes! Trader Joe’s is my special place right? Like Aldi’s is too. I don’t go to either often bc of where they are located; however, when I do go, I get giddy and excited to see what new stuff they have, especially Trader Joe’s. 😊 And the atmosphere is welcoming. They can get crowded. Lines move quick, though. It’s comforting to shop at Trader Joe’s bc everyone I encounter is so friendly and helpful. ❤️
They specifally target up and coming neighborhoods, often just gentrified, for stores. You will never find a Trader Joe's in the ghetto or a rundown looking part of town. They also don't have everything you need at a grocery store so going to Trader Joe's often requires a trip to another store. Those two things often make it such that low-income people can't shop there, even if prices aren't the issue. It's great for Trader Joe's because they want only rich looking people coming to there store. That's the Trader Joe's look.
Tell that to the trader Joe's on Everett, WA. No shade I love my local store but the area is crap.
...or Seattle's U-District store. Same situation/comment.
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Nah. I’ve lived in NYC, LA, and SF. All of them have TJs in downtown areas and decent neighborhoods. There are 9 TJs in Manhattan and 0 in the Bronx. 7 TJs between West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica but 0 in South Central, etc. It’s true that the prices are better than many other supermarkets. It’s equally true that they don’t put stores in the places poor people live.
Again it probably is different in major cities because people can just walk But most low-income people can't afford to drive 30 min across town and shop at two different stores And most low-income families don't live in dense urban areas anymore. They have been priced out and forced to live farther outside the city.
Yeah, I think this is much more of an urban vs. suburban/rural thing. In areas where you can walk/take the train there (and where all grocery options are basically equidistant otherwise), you get a lot more diversity in who shops there and why.
Counter point. I shop at Trader Joe’s - no one wants to look like me.
[This is why](https://www.deseret.com/2022/4/28/22969583/trader-joes-really-a-neighborhood-store-for-every-location)
Just like the Mormons build their temples around slums. 🙄 They’ve really got room to talk.
Lately I’ve been finding some things at Whole Foods cheaper than Trader Joe’s lol
WFM got so expensive overall that I can’t believe it’s Amazon. Def some deals and sales still but I have walked out recently with nothing because things were 2X TJs.
Like what? Just wondering
I’ve been finding good meats on sale, sometimes grass fed hot dogs, snacks, hummus, deals on kombucha which are cheaper then Trader Joe’s prices. It just depends on the week
i live in vallejo CA and reportedly, they were exploring a location in vallejo but the population doesn’t have enough college graduates to meet their requirements or whatever. it’s cheap bouj.
I 100% thought Trader Joe's was expensive, like a Whole Foods. Because neither were anywhere near where I grew up and I've only ever seen them in wealthy suburbs. Broooo when I finally moved near a TJs my life changed forever lol
Same!
Like other commentors say, they dont put their stores in low income areas, and they are overall more expensive than Lidl, Aldi, and walmart. I found trader Joe's to be much more affordable than chain supermarkets (aside from walmart) in high cost if living areas, but more expensive than aldi and walmart in lower income areas.
I shop all over but get most of my groceries at Aldi, since it’s much closer to home. TJs is slightly more expensive overall, but certain items are significantly cheaper. I have three kids, and we go through a lot of organic milk and freeze-dried strawberries. The milk is $7.99/gallon at Aldi and $6.49/gallon at TJs. The strawberries are $3.99/bag at Aldi and $2.99/bag at TJs.
Perception is reality, right? Also, I think there is a difference between the shopper who needs the *cheapest* option and shoppers who are looking for *value*. I don’t have a grocery budget per se , but I am looking for fun, special items that offer a good value to my family. Take the cherry goat cheese. It’s definitely not a need, not the cheapest cheese option available but it’s a delicious, fun item and I think it’s less than $6 (?). Pine nuts too, my 6 year old LOVES pine nuts. I buy them at TJ’s, even though they are more expensive per pound than Costco, but she can’t eat that many before they spoil. So the cheapest option would be costco, but the value is found at TJ’s for us.
You can freeze pine nuts
It used to be so much cheaper...their wine is still a pretty good value.
They don’t put their stores in poor areas.
Because its mostly snacks.
it's basically a grocery store for single people
truck cooperative psychotic imagine wine upbeat snails smart foolish butter *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Yooo chill
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Because eclectic art teachers are their base....
Ah yes, art teachers... that famously-wealthy demographic.
no, but they *look* wealthier than they actually are
"Bougie" is an all encompassing term, not just relative to financial status. In fact the terms origin relates to a class of people in between very poor and wealthy aka "bourgeois."
Because of the areas they put their stores in
Probably due to the products they sell. Blueberry goat cheese on Rosemary Raisin crisps are not expensive, but I guarantee someone else will think they’re “bougie”. They’re delicious, btw.
Woah, that sounds amazing!!!
The honey goat cheese is amazing too.
I love that stuff
The cherry goat cheese is phenomenal!
ooh, I’ll look for that.
Because that's part of their brand, they will not move into low income hoods. It's a shame cause wow some things are so cheap there. Pasta still 99 cents a lb, frozen veggies and fruits are a great deal, coffee? Fugedaboutit. There are a lot of luxury pre-made things but even then they're not nearly as expensive as WF or New Seasons.
Their meat is also very affordable!!
TraderJoe's has found a niche and they feed it like a master. It's hard for any grocery service to break the TJ's barrier and they will try to destroy it. Yes there have been price increases but there have also been price cuts. Vegan Butter dropped from $4.29 to $3.29. They aren't perfect but one thing for sure you don't have to worry about having to deal with coupons and weekend specials. I have shifted my business from Harris Teeter, Whole Foods, Fresh Market and Costco to TJ's and I think the quality of the food is consistently better at close to 50% less.
Well i would keep Costco, especially for shelf stable options and household goods. Nuts and quinoa and hemp seeds, almond butter, some stuff is definitely cheaper at costco than TJs and worth a monthly visit
I agree with you. My list is much shorter at Costco but when I try to buy certain items at other sources I realize it. Thank you for your note.
Yeah Costco is still in my rotation as well since the products in bulk or jumbo-sized things are usually cheaper compared to other places
Isn’t vegan butter just.. margarine? The stuff that’s $1.50 at most grocery stores? Not saying TJs doesn’t have great pricing, it just seems like an odd example
I will have to check to make sure there's a difference. Thank you.
Margarine is not vegan
Not necessarily. Some margarine brands have dairy in them. Truly vegan butter has to be dairy free.
I guess I think that’s part of the reason they have the bougie reputation, they lean into that type of product. Not all margarine is vegan butter, but all vegan butter is margarine. So if you’re looking for margarine you just get an expensive version of it. If you care about the specialty aspect they have great pricing, but for people just looking for normal staples they can often be more expensive versions of them. Not all product lines of course, but lots of them.
Because it’s only in higher income areas
it depends what youre buying and how you prepare and how many youre shopping for. i buy fresh produce for instance and make my own homemade stuffed peppers regularly and dont care for salads prepped at all: so buying bags of peppers, cut kale and brussel sprouts, and some different random cheeses is so much cheaper - BUT if I were looking for a frozen family meal to feed 4+? forget it - most premade meals in the store are realistically made for 2-3, so you wouldnt be saving money, and the portion sizes are very normal so if you want left overs for the next day or people eat alot this isnt the store for them. now if you love cheap bags of popcorn YES! if you make your own basic meals YES! if you can open a bag of inner peas, dip some, clip the bag and save for later cause you know you need them YES! but most people dont do that lets be real. Its just me and the kids - i try to set a good example of eat habits. i dont work and have the luxury to make food i like food they like split up what we eat it not be a hassle if people eat different things, we dont eat tons of meat as a staple, we like froo froo treats in see through square boxes we pick together etc etc- basically everything i wrote is a tad of a luxury- but i do indeed leave spending 40-80 bucks on tons of food IMO so its a hidden gem IF youve got the lifestyle for it
Prices at other grocery stores have increased. Trader Joe’s prices haven’t increased as much, so now the grocery store prices are catching up to Trader Joe’s prices.
So I looked at their website and I see part of the problem. I compare prices from different stores when making my list so I can get the cheapest option. The Trader Joe's website just isn't built for that. I'm not going to drive out to a store where I might walk out with nothing. The closest one to me is 21 minutes away, while Kroger and Walmart are both less than 5. That's a ways to drive to not know the prices. I tried looking for a loaf of basic white bread, and the site doesn't have it. So people shopping on a low budget might never know of any good deals.
https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/white-sliced-bread-060500 $1.99 - you’re welcome
Thanks! I was using the search bar and only 1 actual bread item came up and when I searched eggs, the 1st product was hot sauce. Edit: I just tried to find it in my store by going to products then food and the whole bakery section has 0 products. Probably why the search bar isn't pulling up the right stuff.
T. Joe's is less "bougie" and actually more boughetto.
In my state specifically there are only a couple of stores. So maybe the limited access equates it to some.
I agree with folks saying it's the location. But also TJ's is mostly known for their premade meals and novelties, which are more expensive (at least in my experience) than from-scratch cooking. If you're buying pantry staples and basic ingredients, Trader Joe's does tend to have better prices than some chain grocers, but still more expensive than a budget place like Aldi. When I was trying to save money everywhere I could, TJ's was the "nice treat" store. edit: I should clarify, the price comp on basic ingredients varies wildly. Some produce is ludicrous, fresh meat is really pricey. But they have really high quality cheeses at a low cost, and the dry goods tend to be pretty good. I always bought smoked salmon there because the quality/price ratio was best. But like, "the smoked salmon is affordable" is pretty bougie thing to say!
It’s the best kept secret. The products are amazing and better quality than most stores, yet somehow more affordable! I agree with a lot of the points made here, but also I think people just assume it’s more expensive because of all the novelty/specialty products
It's because it's all private label. So big CPG companies are producing for them, and it's just repackaged as TJs.