I love Trader Joes. I love the cheeses, oh
their parmigiana reggiano. I love the creamy
valencia peanut butter that you can't get
anywhere else, the Nero double dark malt
ale, organic tomato sauces in a jar, fertile
eggs, Joes dark coffee and when I can afford
it Traders Bay Blend.
I love that they offer organic fair trade
products and oh, the Belgium Chocolates. I
love the prices, and even the crowded tiny
aisles and that you can get from one end of
the store to the other in 2 minutes if you
want to.
I love the absence of name brands, love the
variety of new brands and oh, please the
artisan breads. I am typical. The May 2009
issue of Consumer Reports ranked Trader
Joe's the second-best supermarket chain in
the nation, after Wegmans.
In June 2009 MSN Money released its third
annual Customer Service Hall of Fame survey
results. Trader Joe's ranks second in
customer service. Ethisphere Magazine named
Trader Joe's one of the most ethical
companies in the United States in 2008,
2009, and 2010. In 2011, however, Trader
Joe's did not make the list. Oops.. What
happened?
In November 2001 Trader Joe's pledged to
drop all genetically modified food from its
product line. I remember reading a
handwritten sign, also something I love
about Traders is the signage, about this
pledge that was posted in their store where
the fish tank use to be. Then the sign
disappeared, I thought that meant so had
their commitment to no gmo's. When I asked
where the sign went they were quick to
correct me that only Trader Joe brand
products were guaranteed non gmo which
suggested perhaps there might be GMOs
present in other brands. Am pretty sure this
is true but we will not know for sure until
there is a law passed about labeling GMOs.
Unlike typical grocery stores, which may
carry 50,000 items (or SKUs), Trader Joe's
stocks about 4,000 items, 80% of which bear
one of its own brand names. This Label GMO
initiative is so up Trader Joes wiki hut.
In 2009, Trader Joe's pledged to use the
Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program
to inform its purchasing decisions regarding
sustainable seafood and to offer only
sustainable seafood in stores by December
31, 2012.
As of 2010, Trader Joe's sells what Fortune
magazine estimated to be $1,750 in
merchandise per square foot, more than
double the sales generated by Whole Foods
Market. Trader Joe's describes itself as
"your neighborhood grocery store" or "your
unique grocery store.” Products sold include
gourmet foods, organic foods, vegetarian
food, unusual frozen foods, imported foods,
domestic and imported wine and beer (where
local law permits), "alternative" food
items, and staples like bread, cereal, eggs,
dairy, coffee and produce. What is not to
love about Traders?
Many of the company's products are
environmentally friendly. In October 2007,
Trader Joe's began to phase out foods
imported from China amid concerns that
standards on "organic" products from the
country are not as stringent as they should
be.
I love Trader Joes. Well, maybe just one
thing that makes me nuts is when they switch
everything around in the store. I know it is
a solid marketing device to introduce new
items you would not readily notice in
automatic mode, but it still drives me
crazy.
So, here is my confusion. This California
Label GMOs Initiative fits so well with
Traders mission statement, neighborhood
grocery store feeling and commitment to
community. So why is TJs resorting to such
hurtful behavior?
I really don’t understand.
Even New Frontiers and Whole Foods, who
started out hostile towards our volunteer
signature gatherers, once they understood
that this initiative directly impacted their
customer base, and was community orientated,
they switched gears and embraced the
campaign and welcomed the volunteers.
They could not ignore the fact that 90% of
their customers wanted to know what was in
their food and supported the labeling of
GMOs.
I am a volunteer for this Label GMO
initiative. I am also a neighbor and a long
time loyal customer and I just want Trader
Joes to know that this sign hurts.
Sincerely,
Jeanne Blackwell
jeannegmo@gmail.com
805-783-2509
San Luis Obispo
Local volunteer for the California Label GMO
initiative.
Stats provided by
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trader_Joe%27s
Sign reads
YOUR RIGHT TO DISTRACTION FREE SHOPPING
Out of respect for our customers, Trader Joes does
not permit any solicitation at or near the front of
our stores-regardless of the issue. Please feel
free to ignore anyone with a clipboard or cheap
folding table, without feeling any guilt
whatsoever. For info please talk to one of our
crewmembers. Thank You.
This signed placed at the exit where we were told
to stand. The sign certainly got more attention
than the volunteers but I guess that is the
difference between attraction and distraction.