Trader Joe's for the UK

[amandadavies]

Hi there. Anyone who has been to the US and visited the Trader Joe's organic supermarket chain can't fail to have been impressed.

This really is the first organic food store I have come across that has truly original products at very affordable prices. I have since spoken to many others who have felt the same, and questioned why we have nothing like them here.

As such I have started up the Facebook Group "Trader Joe's for London, UK" to gather support and encourage them to open on these shores. This has worked in a number of US cities to date so please help make it happen in the UK, starting with London.

www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=117091648303866&ref=ts

Many thanks

Amanda

[thereistheball]

Have you been to Whole Foods in Kensington?

[CMOTdibbler]

Alas, I don't think they would go for it. Trader Joes don't expand very fast, and are still mainly a West Coast thing. And since Whole Foods haven't done very well here, it wouldn't be a good sign.

Why not just go to your local health food shop and ask them to stock great stuff ? My local farm shop sources fantastic gluten free foods, plus a fab range of local food. Can't beat the personal service !

[amandadavies]

Yes I have been to Wholefoods several times and it's a completely different proposition, not least because of the exorbitant pricing. The real difference with Trader Joes is the quality food at an affordable cost.

Please don't be defeatist and join the campaign. Trader joes is not just west coast, it has outlets throughout the US and I'm sure we can get them over here. They are after all owned by a European retailer in Aldi!

Thanks

Amanda

[googietheegg]

That's some nice free advertising you've got there

[amandadavies]

Free advertising? If you're referring to me I have nothing to do with the company whatsoever.

Amanda

[amandadavies]

We're increasing numbers now, so hopefully he campaign is starting to work

Please join in

www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=117091648303866

[Olisqueen]

I've joined as I'm gagging to try Trader Joe's hair products.
If you live in or around Derby there's a great vegan wholefood co operative called Sound Bites in the city centre. I'm not vegan or vegetarian but like to buy organic pulses and the toiletries and household products are great.

[SparkyUK]

i don't think trader joes is strictly organic, more wholesome quality food

[nooka]

I used to live in the States and thought Trader Joe was the closest substitute for Waitrose. It's not an organic shop, but it does sell good quality food. Whole Foods which is much more of a health food shop was I thought ridiculously over priced, and I'm not surprised it wasn't very successful in London. My experience (this was New York City, so only one part of America of course) was that on the whole US supermarkets were much poorer quality and much more expensive than in the UK, and most of our friends used a variety of specialist shops instead.

I don't think that there is a gap in the market in the UK for a Trader Joe type chain.

[ckuroyama]

Trader Joe's is an entity all to itself. I realize this is a very old thread, but I can very much vouch for the difference between trader joes and any other company you want to try and compare it too. Since I moved to London 5 years ago I have loved Waitrose, indulging in the delicacies and fresh foods, but it is nothing like trader joes. Trader joes is about lasting fresh food. With a huge frozen section and a ton of canned organic they provide organic food to people who would otherwise not be able to afford healthy meals. Waitrose/Planet Organic/Whole Foods are nothing like this. NOTHING.

[LBUK]

I know this is a Zombie thread but thought the news was worth reanimating -- TJ's is coming to the UK. Rumour is that the store will be near Charing Cross but I do not know if that is true. www.traderjoesuk.co.uk/ I was trying to find more details, planned opening when I came across this thread and thought I would share.

[LBUK]

Apparently it is a spoof site, a mail from Trader Joe's customer service revealed they have no plans to open in the UK and are focused only on US expansion. :(

[AmericasTorturedBrow]

Shame because I live on west coat of USA and TJ is my go to. I love it but then the other options are very limited - overpriced and crap or lovely and extortionate.

Their branding and marketing hooks you in, it's affordable, frozen and tinned selections are good but most veg you have to but pre packaged which is the only downfall. And the stores aren't actually that big

[jill23blue]

Hi Amanda,
Just found this thread because I'm in a great (NY based) food group, and I'm tired of being left out (we live in London) because everything - everything! - they get is from Trader Joe's.
So I did a search on 'when will they bring Trader Joe's to the UK' and up came your thread.
I've joined the group - they're up to a bit 179 members - but if you want to do anything else to help them open on these shores, I'm in!
We live in South Kensington so Whole Foods is pretty local, and both husband and self love it - and it IS doing quite well, esp that branch. But you're right, it's not the same thing, and you have to be pretty smart about shopping there.

Oh btw, if you or anyone else reading this want to join the food group, it's a wonderful, funny, supportive group of mostly women, mostly mums:
www.facebook.com/groups/MerrickGirlsWeekdayRecipies/
I think you have to be invited, but if you send me a private message thru facebook (Jill Carin Adams) I'll invite anyone who wants to join.

[Thewrongmans]

Trader joes is NOT organic. The food is much better quality than usual supermarkets in the US, however it is really limited for a British market. We are used to waitrose, M&S etc, even Tesco has a better organic selection than TJs. The packaging is cute though.

[Thewrongmans]

Ooops Zombie thread.

[TheWholeOfTheSpook]

TJ's fruit and veg go mouldy within 2 days.

[ResIpsaLoquiturInterAlia]

[242Mummy]

Trader Joe's belong to the same company as Aldi!

[ResIpsaLoquiturInterAlia]

Yes Trader Joe was purchased by the German Aldi Nord see en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trader_Joe%27s

I used to work and live in West LA SoCal and this was my preferred grocery store throughout North America. Whole Foods is good but it would be ideal to get Trader Joe a spot in London. I can see it do very well in say Chelsea, Holland Park, Primrose Hill, Camden or City and Canary Wharf etc.

I guess the London equivalencies would be the various independent boutique fine foods farmer market delicatessens as found in many of the above localities and of course Whole Foods but these are a few notches up the food chain monetarily. At the other end of the food chain are Aldi (now with wider appeal and acceptance) and say low rent Iceland and Farmfoods which tend to cater to a different demographic and so located appropriate to their target market.

USA Trader Joe's has a unique blend of Polynesian Hawaii Tiki culture vibe and with exiting new cool food products and creations appealed particularly to a curious and explorative younger professional crowd. I understand many of the products are as with many large food retailers sourced from original food producers. Many patrons have discovered the special Trader Joe's ingredients by reverse engineering deconstruction of very similar products in other mainstream American supermarkets. I guess only a few worldwide brands like Ben & Jerry's carries a similar distinctive cool factor and vibe but only for limited desert products.