Inside Trader Joe's

Here's a quick taste of Inside Trader Joe's, a new 5-part series coming May 1, 2018, from the folks at Trader Joe's. There's no other store like Trader Joe's. Now you can go behind-the-scenes to find out why Trader Joe's is... Trader Joe's. Trailer Transcript (PDF)

People can’t stop tasting them and talking about them. What makes Trader Joe’s products so different? How does an idea go from being one of our new discoveries to one of yours? Meet the person with the best job at Trader Joe’s (or maybe anywhere!), traveling the world in search of new flavors. What went wrong (and turned out right) when we introduced Mandarin Orange Chicken, among our most popular products ever. How a customer got a laugh from our CEO and changed the way we sell bananas. What’s NOT in Trader Joe’s products? Episode 1 Transcript (PDF)    

At Trader Joe’s, values aren’t just great deals on great products. They’re also the values we live by, every day in every neighborhood store. We’ll share the ways we put those values into practice when we take you inside our (top-secret) Tasting Panel, where decisions are being made about what products to put on Trader Joe’s shelves. Then, Joe himself (yes, there is a Trader Joe) helps explain how it all began… including why we wear those oh-so-stylish Hawaiian shirts. Episode 2 Transcript (PDF)

Informative and Seriously Not Too Serious – That’s always our goal at Trader Joe’s. We want our Crew Members and Customers to find it easy and fun to explore our stores, discovering everything from unique international fare and American basics, to vegan, to gluten-free, and low carb options. We’ll explain why Trader Joe’s Fearless Flyer has been called “a cross between MAD magazine and Consumer Reports.” And we’ll try some delicious bites at the Demo Station, because the best way to be informed is to taste for yourself. We bravely reveal some of our biggest product failures. And we ask our Crew Members the important question, “How many Hawaiian shirts do you own?” Episode 3 Transcript (PDF)

Oh sure, we could sell your favorite Trader Joe’s products online, but that’s not who we are. We could collect data about you, but that’s really not who we are. We strive to make shopping at Trader Joe’s an enjoyable experience, a fun adventure. For many, a Trader Joe’s store has long been the place to buy wine, and they ask us, “How do you do it – offer such great wines at such great prices?” We’ll show you the secret on a trip to Napa Valley, California. And why are Trader Joe’s Crew Members so happy, anyway? The answer is surprisingly simple. Also, the inspirational advice that one customer gave TJ’s CEO. Episode 4 Transcript (PDF)

Sometime, someday, you may need a little help from a neighbor. Millions of us do. Find out how we try to be good neighbors in every one of the 475 neighborhoods we serve. Then, honest answers to some of the toughest Customer questions we receive. Like, “Why did you drop my favorite product?” and “What’s up with the parking lot?!” Finally, we peer into our crystal ball to see the future of Trader Joe’s – come along for the ride and join our shopping adventure! Episode 5 Transcript (PDF)

When it comes to quality, Trader Joe’s sets a high bar… way above what the law requires. In this episode, we explain what’s in the food, what’s not, and what will never be. So if you’re avoiding artificial flavors, added sugar, GMOs, or MSG, or think maybe you should, this episode is for you. Also, a new “mask” that could be fun for Halloween, and just happens to be great for moisturizing year round.  Episode 6 Transcript (PDF)    

Trader Joe’s has been selling nuts, wine, and cheese since our even-humbler beginnings. In this episode of “Inside Trader Joe’s,” we explain which nuts our customers are the most nutty about. We recommend some cheeses you may not have tried. And we reveal which wines are, we believe, the best in the store – at any price. Episode 7 Transcript (PDF)

It's beginning to look a lot like the holidays at Trader Joe's! How do we come up with all the great holiday products you'll find at Trader Joe's every year? How long does it take to make all that delicious stuff come to life? What's new this holiday season? And did you know Dog Advent Calendars are a thing? Come Inside Trader Joe's and we'll help you get into the holiday spirit. Ho Ho Ho ! Episode 8 Transcript (PDF)

When we say we travel the world in search of great products for our customers, we really mean it! In this episode, come along with us as we circumnavigate the globe, finding the WOW in locations around the world, from South Korea to Southern California, with stops in places like New Zealand, Thailand, the Republic of Georgia, Puerto Rico, and so many more! Episode 9 Transcript (PDF)

At Trader Joe's, we are focused on growing, every day – with every product, in every store. We're opening new stores, hiring new Crew Members, meeting new Customers, and developing new products. Whew! In this episode, we talk about finding new store locations, we chat with customers at one of our original East Coast stores, and we look forward to some delicious new products coming to your neighborhood Trader Joe's in the year ahead. Episode 10 Transcript (PDF)

Our approach to sustainability is simple. We all want to leave the planet a better place than we found it. At Trader Joe's, we're working hard to do just that, in part by reimagining how we approach packaging in our stores. We've eliminated certain types of packaging, we're reducing other types of packaging, and we're taking steps to remove more than a million pounds of plastic over the next year alone! We're going to the store, to a recycling plant, and to a next-generation manufacturing facility dedicated to making a positive impact, one plastic bottle at a time. Episode 11 Transcript (PDF)

Come with us on a delicious journey through the freezer case at Trader Joe's. Hear how frozen foods can be fresher than the "fresh" foods; come along as we sample some of our Customers' favorite frozen finds at a neighborhood Trader Joe's; find out about some new treats coming soon to a Trader Joe's near you. Along the way, we'll share some info about how long frozen food keeps in your freezer (a good long time, it turns out), and the very best way to prepare our much-loved Cauliflower Gnocchi. If you're a frozen foods fanatic, or even if you're more fickle about freezer fare, this episode of Inside Trader Joe's will leave you hungry for more. (Figuratively and literally, we hope) Episode 12 Transcript (PDF)

It's the episode where we talk about the abundant flowers and plants you'll find at your neighborhood Trader Joe's. We travel the world in search of the most beauteous blooms and festive flowers, and we bring them to you at prices that really define value. How on earth do we do it? Have a listen. Got a question you'd really like to ask the folks who make things happen here at TJ's? Send it to us at podcastquestions@traderjoes.com. We'll use as many questions as we can in an upcoming episode of Inside Trader Joe's. Episode 13 Transcript (PDF)

In this episode, we’re tackling the questions YOU (our listeners) asked. From the pretty straightforward “How do you decide what to sell?” and “How do you know what your customers want?” to the more philosophical “Why don’t you have WiFi?” and “Why not sell your products online?” We collected your questions and gathered some super knowledgeable Crew Members to help us answer them. Tune in to find out, once and for all, why we don’t carry diapers, and why we do plan to keep introducing limited availability products. Episode 15 Transcript (PDF)

In this episode, we’re digging deep into the world of Produce. Chances are, you don’t spend so much time thinking about your greens, your berries, your stone fruits, your avocados… (well, you probably do think about avocados quite a bit). The thing is, we spend loads of time thinking about all of it, so all you have to think about is what looks good when you walk into your neighborhood Trader Joe’s. We find out what it takes to ensure every one of our 488 stores gets the best produce we can find, from all around the world; we talk packaging, and steps we’re taking to reduce our produce packaging; and we’ll answer the burning question… what’s more popular, fruit or veggies? Episode 16 Transcript (PDF)

In this episode of Inside Trader Joe’s, we come to you live (well, we recorded it live) from the Trader Joe’s Annual Captains' Meeting. Every year, we gather every Captain (Manager) from every Trader Joe’s across the country together, in one place, to let them know where we’re going, say thanks for all the great things that have happened over the last year, and to give them some useful information to bring back to their stores. We’ll hear about some delicious new products (even for pets!) coming soon to a Trader Joe’s near you, and we’ll have a little fun with our Captains along the way. Episode 17 Transcript (PDF)

Whether you're shopping for staple spices or in search of the next big thing, the spice section at Trader Joe's is the place to be. In this episode of Inside Trader Joe's, we take you on a journey through our own spice trade. Along the way, we'll learn a bit about everything from garlic to cinnamon, and Everything But The Bagel to... well, have a listen to find out what's coming next. Episode 18 Transcript PDF

The holidays are finally here! We pine for this season all year long, and we’re constantly at work developing and refining our holiday product lineup. In this episode, we’ll introduce you to some of the new delights you’ll find in your neighborhood Trader Joe’s this holiday season, we’ll learn about some of our Crew’s holiday traditions, we’ll get some table-scaping advice from our resident flowers and plants authority, and we’ll share some songs in the spirit of the season… as only Trader Joe’s could present them! Episode 19 Transcript (PDF)

Cheese makes the world go ‘round. Or, at the very least, cheese often comes in rounds, and we’d go to the ends of the earth to get our hands on some good cheese. In this episode, we take you on a journey through the world of cheese, going around the globe and back again to your neighborhood Trader Joe’s. We spend some time with an English cheesemaker, we talk with a local TJ’s Crew Member who loves cheese as much as we do, and we learn about which wines pair best with certain cheeses, and we find out about a few special cheeses you’ll find in our stores during the holiday season. Episode 20 Transcript (PDF)