Full History Of Trader Joe's In Timeline From 1955

1955: Inspiration from Trader Vic's

Joe Coulombe drew inspiration from the tiki-themed restaurant Trader Vic's, which opened in Beverly Hills in 1955, for the Trader Joe's name and theme.

1958: Pronto Market Beginnings

Trader Joe's started in 1958 as a chain of convenience stores in the Greater Los Angeles area called Pronto Market.

1967: First Store and Early Offerings

The first Trader Joe's branded store opened in 1967 in Pasadena, California. In the early years, some stores featured leased spaces for butchers, fresh sandwiches, and cheese.

1967: First Trader Joe's Opens

The first Trader Joe's store opened in Pasadena, California in 1967.

1970: Anticipating Changing Consumer Trends

Coulombe noticed a rise in college-educated individuals and the upcoming introduction of jumbo jets in 1970. He believed this would lead to a more well-traveled public seeking international flavors.

1977: Introduction of Ethnic Food Branding

In 1977, Trader Joe's started using international-sounding brand names like "Trader José", "Trader Joe San", and "Trader Giotto" for their private label ethnic food items.

1979: Acquisition by Aldi Founder

Theo Albrecht, founder of Aldi, purchased Trader Joe's as a personal investment for his family in 1979.

1979: Albrecht's Acquisition

Theo Albrecht, owner and CEO of Aldi Nord, bought Trader Joe's in 1979.

1987: New CEO John V. Shields

John V. Shields took over as CEO of Trader Joe's in 1987, succeeding Joe Coulombe.

1993: Expansion to Arizona

Under the leadership of John V. Shields, Trader Joe's expanded to Arizona in 1993.

1996: East Coast Expansion

Trader Joe's opened its first stores on the East Coast in 1996, with locations in Brookline and Cambridge, Massachusetts.

1997: Impact on Home Values

Zillow's research between 1997 and 2014 revealed that proximity to a Trader Joe's or Whole Foods store often correlated with a more rapid increase in home values.

2001: Dan Bane Becomes CEO

Dan Bane succeeded John V. Shields as CEO of Trader Joe's in 2001.

2004: Rapid Growth and Profitability

BusinessWeek reported in 2004 that Trader Joe's had experienced significant expansion between 1990 and 2001, with a fivefold increase in stores and a tenfold increase in profits.

February 2008: Highest Sales Per Square Foot

In February 2008, BusinessWeek reported that Trader Joe's had the highest sales per square foot among grocery stores in the United States.

February 2008: Phasing Out Single-Ingredient Products from China

Trader Joe's announced in February 2008 that they would phase out single-ingredient products sourced from China by April 2008 due to customer concerns.

April 2008: Completion of Phase-Out

By April 2008, Trader Joe's completed the phase-out of single-ingredient products from China, addressing earlier customer concerns.

2008: Recognition for Ethical Business Practices

From 2008 to 2010, Trader Joe's earned a spot on Ethisphere magazine's list of the most ethical companies in the United States, showcasing its commitment to responsible business practices and ethical conduct.

May 2009: High Ranking in Consumer Reports Supermarket Survey

In May 2009, Trader Joe's received recognition for its excellence by securing the second-place ranking among supermarket chains in the United States in a Consumer Reports survey. This accolade highlighted the company's commitment to customer satisfaction and quality products.

June 2009: Second Place in MSN Money Customer Service Survey

Trader Joe's continued its streak of positive customer service recognition in June 2009, achieving second place in MSN Money's annual Customer Service Hall of Fame survey. This result reflected the company's dedication to providing exceptional service and fostering strong customer relationships.

2010: Ownership Transfer

Following Theo Albrecht's death in 2010, ownership of Trader Joe's was passed down to his heirs.

2010: Recognition for Ethical Business Practices

From 2008 to 2010, Trader Joe's earned a spot on Ethisphere magazine's list of the most ethical companies in the United States, showcasing its commitment to responsible business practices and ethical conduct.

2011: Absent from Ethisphere's Most Ethical Companies List

In 2011, Trader Joe's was not included in Ethisphere magazine's annual list of the most ethical companies in the United States. This absence may have been due to various factors and did not necessarily indicate any ethical breaches by the company.

2012: Sustainability Efforts Improve Greenpeace CATO Ranking

Between 2012 and 2013, Trader Joe's made significant progress in its sustainability practices, resulting in a notable improvement on Greenpeace's Carting Away the Oceans (CATO) scale. By removing six unsustainable fish species from its inventory and actively participating in Bering Sea Canyons conservation initiatives, the company climbed from 15th to 3rd on the CATO ranking.

September 2013: Changes to Healthcare Coverage for Part-Time Employees

In September 2013, following the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Trader Joe's announced adjustments to its healthcare coverage policies for part-time employees. To qualify for medical insurance, part-time employees would now be required to work an average of 30 hours per week.

2013: Sustainability Efforts Improve Greenpeace CATO Ranking

Between 2012 and 2013, Trader Joe's made significant progress in its sustainability practices, resulting in a notable improvement on Greenpeace's Carting Away the Oceans (CATO) scale. By removing six unsustainable fish species from its inventory and actively participating in Bering Sea Canyons conservation initiatives, the company climbed from 15th to 3rd on the CATO ranking.

2014: Portland Store Controversy

Trader Joe's halted plans to open a store in a historically Black neighborhood in Portland, Oregon, in 2014, following protests against gentrification concerns.

2014: Another Top Ranking in Consumer Reports Survey

Trader Joe's maintained its reputation for high quality and customer satisfaction in 2014, earning another top-scoring position in Consumer Reports' supermarket chain ranking.

2015: Alternative Store Selection

In 2015, the city of Portland announced that Natural Grocers would open a store at the previously considered Trader Joe's location, alongside a proposal for affordable housing development.

February 2016: Cage-Free Egg Goal Announcement

Trader Joe's announced in February 2016 their goal to transition to selling only cage-free eggs, aiming for completion in western states by 2020 and nationwide by 2025.

2016: High Sales Figures

In 2016, Fortune magazine estimated Trader Joe's sales to be $1,750 per square foot, surpassing Whole Foods.

2016: EPA Settlement Over Refrigerant Emissions

In 2016, Trader Joe's reached a settlement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice regarding violations of the Clean Air Act. The company was accused of emitting refrigerants with high global warming potential (GWP) and ozone-depleting substances. As part of the settlement, Trader Joe's agreed to reduce emissions, implement refrigerant tracking and repair processes, and use ultra-low GWP refrigerants in 15 stores.

2019: Response to Greenpeace Petition on Single-Use Plastics

In 2019, Trader Joe's received a petition from Greenpeace, signed by 100,000 individuals, urging the company to phase out single-use plastics. In response, Trader Joe's made commitments to eliminate single-use carryout bags nationwide, transition to biodegradable and compostable produce bags, replace styrofoam trays, and promote the sale of loose, unpackaged produce.

2019: Ranked Among Glassdoor's Best Places to Work

Trader Joe's was recognized for its positive work environment in 2019, securing the 23rd spot on Glassdoor's list of the best places to work in the United States.

July 2020: Petition Against Branding

An online petition in July 2020, during the George Floyd protests, urged Trader Joe's to rename products with culturally themed branding, criticizing them as "racist".

2020: Improved Ranking on Glassdoor's Best Places to Work

In 2020, Trader Joe's further solidified its position as an attractive employer by climbing to the 14th spot on Glassdoor's list of the best places to work in the United States.

2020: Joe Coulombe's Death

Joe Coulombe, the founder of Trader Joe's, passed away in 2020.

2020: Western States Cage-Free Deadline

Trader Joe's aimed to source all eggs sold in their western states from cage-free suppliers by 2020.

2021: Food Donation and Waste Reduction

In 2021, Trader Joe's demonstrated its commitment to reducing food waste by ensuring that approximately 99.5% of its products were either sold, donated, or composted. The company's "Neighborhood Shares Program" played a crucial role in this effort, facilitating the donation of 100% of unsold products to local food recovery organizations.

2021: Memoir Publication

Joe Coulombe's memoir, "Becoming Trader Joe", was published in 2021.

2021: Sustainable Packaging Improvements

Throughout 2021, Trader Joe's continued its efforts to enhance the sustainability of its packaging. The company reported improvements to over 200 products by reducing unnecessary components and increasing the use of recycled and sustainably sourced materials. Notably, Trader Joe's removed over 4 million pounds of plastic packaging from its products, including the elimination of plastic mesh from produce, the replacement of plastic clamshells with sealed fiber trays, and the expansion of compostable options for frozen entrees.

May 14, 2022: Hadley Store Employees Announce Unionization Efforts

On May 14, 2022, employees at the Trader Joe's store in Hadley, Massachusetts, made their intentions to unionize public through an open letter addressed to the company's CEO. The employees cited stagnant wages, a desire for improved pay and benefits, and concerns about workplace conditions as the driving forces behind their decision.

September 2022: Sales Milestone of Charles Shaw Wine

The New York Times reported that Trader Joe's had sold over one billion bottles of Charles Shaw wine, popularly known as "Two Buck Chuck", by September 2022.

October 2022: Return of Free Samples

CNN reported in October 2022 that Trader Joe's was bringing back free samples after a period of restriction during the pandemic.

2022: Typical Customer Profile

In 2022, the average Trader Joe's customer was identified as a married individual between 25 and 44 years old, residing in an urban area and earning a minimum of $80,000 annually.

2022: First Trader Joe's Store Unionized in Hadley, Massachusetts

In a significant development for labor relations at Trader Joe's, the company's Hadley, Massachusetts store became the first location to successfully unionize in 2022. The unionization effort, overseen by the National Labor Relations Board, marked a pivotal moment in Trader Joe's history.

2022: First Unionized Store

The first Trader Joe's store became unionized in 2022.

January 2023: 14th Annual Customer Choice Awards Results Released

In January 2023, Trader Joe's announced the results of its 14th annual customer survey, revealing the most popular items across various categories. The Chili & Lime Flavored Rolled Tortilla Chips secured the top spot overall and as the favorite snack, while the Sparkling Honeycrisp Apple Juice claimed the title of favorite beverage. Other winners included Trader Joe's Cheddar Cheese with Caramelized Onions (favorite cheese), Trader Joe's Butter Chicken (favorite entrée), and seasonal candles (favorite household item).

April 20, 2023: Oakland, California Store Votes to Unionize

On April 20, 2023, crew members at the Trader Joe's store in Oakland, California's Rockridge neighborhood voted in favor of unionization. The final tally stood at 73 votes in support and 53 against, signifying a growing interest in union representation among Trader Joe's employees.

July 2023: Leadership Transition

Dan Bane retired as CEO in July 2023, and Bryan Palbaum, former COO and president, succeeded him. Jon Basalone was appointed as vice-CEO and president.

October 31, 2023: Store Count and Locations

As of October 31, 2023, Trader Joe's operated 564 stores across 42 states in the United States. The majority of locations ranged from 10,000 to 15,000 square feet.

2024: Trader Joe's Joins SpaceX in Lawsuit Challenging NLRB

In a move that raised eyebrows, Trader Joe's aligned itself with SpaceX in 2024 by joining a lawsuit seeking to declare the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) unconstitutional. The lawsuit challenged the NLRB's authority to enforce U.S. labor law regarding collective bargaining and unfair labor practices.

2024: Legal Challenge Against NLRB

Trader Joe's joined a lawsuit, alongside Elon Musk, aiming to declare the National Labor Relations Board unconstitutional in 2024.

2025: Nationwide Cage-Free Deadline

Trader Joe's set a goal to sell only cage-free eggs across all their stores nationwide by 2025.

History of Trader Joe's in Timeline