"Inside the Secret World of Trader Joes"

[metrognome]

for you TJ folks … discuss among yourselves:

http://money.cnn.com/2010/08/20/news/companies/inside_trader_joes_full_version.fortune/

some interesting excerpts:

* the chain is owned by Germany’s ultra-private Albrecht family

* Those Trader Joe’s pita chips? Made by Stacy’s, a division of PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay.

* To pick their next locales, employees look at demographics such as education level. In the past they’ve even looked at who’s subscribing to high-end food and cooking magazines as a way of divining where the epicures are.

* Store managers can make in the low six figures, and full-time crew members can start in the $40,000 to $60,000 range. But on top of the pay, Trader Joe’s annually contributes 15.4% of employees’ gross income to tax-deferred retirement accounts.

* “What’s not to like?” says Costco co-founder and CEO Jim Sinegal. “They’re very good retailers, and we admire them a lot.”

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[NT]

So funny – I think you and I were posting this at the same time! Anyway, I really like the article, fascinating stuff!

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[JoB]

i loved the Aldi chain when i was in Minnesota..

run by the same family ..

i agree that i would prefer to know who makes the products i am purchasing…

but on the other hand i love shopping at a store where glancing at the ingredient list doesn’t automatically mean i will be returning this one to the shelves…

i have come to accept that i have to make the best compromises i can.. and live with them :(

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[ellenater]

I don’t actually care. I don’t think the world it’s as black and white as all that.

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[Author]

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