EXCLUSIVEBRANDSOURCING RETAILER/WHOLESALER ...

TRADER JOE’S
800 Shamrock Ave., Monrovia, CA 90040-3270 USA
Tel: (626) 441-1177
Fax: N/A
www.traderjoes.com
Total Fiscal 2011 Sales: $8.5 Billion+ (E)
Percentage of Total Sales in Exclusive Brands: 80%
Principal Business: Started in 1958 as the Pronto Markets convenience store, founder Joe
Coulombe in 1966 opened his first Trader Joe’s outlet in Pasadena, CA. The concept of a quirky,
upscale, specialty grocery store featuring gourmet, organic, and vegetarian foods proved
successful. Today, there are some 360+ Trader Joe’s stores in more than 25 states plus DC, Its
stores about 10,000 square feet.
EB Identities: Trader Joe’s, Trader Jose (Mexican food), Trader Ming’s (Asian food), Trader
Giotto’s (Italian food), Trader Darwin’s (vitamins), Baker Josef, Charles Shaw (wines), etc.
EB skus: 2,000+
Profile: Privately-held Trader Joe’s, owned by Theo Albrecht, one of the two brothers behind Aldi
(also in this database) of Germany, lately has expanded from its West Coast base (strongest in
California) along the East Coast. Its latest target market: Texas. New stores, new product
offerings, new markets (expansion into other states), earmark this chain’s success. Some Trader
Joe’s branded products are now being introduced into Aldi stores in Germany. Interestingly, Karl
Albrecht, who owns Aldi Sud (South) in Germany, also oversees Aldi stores in the US. Theo,
unable to operate Aldi in the US, opted to start up Trader Joe’s. Theo also had a stake in
Albertson’s, which in 2006 was sold to Supervalu. Theo now has stock in Supervalu. More
interesting: Supervalu oversees Save-A-Lot limited assortment stores, which copy the Aldi
concept. Both chains are competitors, while the Albrecht brothers are in the background. In July
2010, Theo Albrecht passed away.
Procurement Contacts: Procurement Contacts: Kathryn Bernstein and Richard Baltierra, both
Directors Product Development (Tel: 781-43300234 in Needham, MA)