Trader Joe's and ALDI

by Nicole Weston, Posted Jan 15th 2007 @ 10:02AM

Owned by a German company called Albrecht Discounts, ALDI is a discount grocery chain that started in Germany in 1948. Decidedly no frills, the company stocks virtually all house-brand products, all offered at very low prices thanks to exclusive deals with their suppliers, many of which are big-name producers. ALDI has approximately 5,000 stores worldwide and the two Albrecht brothers, who own the company, are some of the riches men in the world.

But getting back to ALDI's business strategy, does this sound like another store that we know of? The same strategy, although executed by the US staff and tailored to their customers' tastes, is the exact same one used by Trader Joe's.

Trader Joe's, although it may be based in Southern California, is actually owned by Albrecht Discounts. The company was purchased back in 1979, long before it hit the cultural mainstream. Since that time, it has been left to turn itself into a very trendy, upscale grocery store by following a similar business plan to ALDI. TJs has low prices and a lot of store-brand products, but a different image that appeals to a different group of consumers.

Filed Under: Business, Stores & Shopping, Did you know?
Tags: Albrecht Discounts, AlbrechtDiscounts, ALDI, business, did you know, discount, discounters, groceries, shopping, shops, store, stores, stores-and-shopping, tjs, Trader Joe's, TraderJoe's

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-15-2007 @1:32PM MJ said... WE have an Aldis here in NC, but would love to have a traders Joes here. Maybe one day...............
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1-15-2007 @1:35PM Kristina said... No, I didn't know this. Interesting. Very limited range of stores for Aldi. Pity, that would be worth checking out. Our company's little Palm Springs guest house/retreat has rustic Sante Fe furniture in it, and I see Aldi has these pieces on sale this week for rock bottom prices! Pity I can't drive from California to Indiana, the closest store.

Anyway, interesting.
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1-15-2007 @2:10PM Megan said... That's two smart guys right there.
Hats off to them ; )
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1-15-2007 @4:37PM Scott said... Thanks for the article, actually. Not only was it informative but I also found out that there's an ALDI not more than 13 minutes away from my dorm. This certainly beats driving to Indianapolis (and then some) for 70 minutes to hit up Trader Joe's!

I'm just glad there are at least three "nearby" Trader Joe's back at home. I've always been impressed by what they have to offer, let alone the prices.
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1-15-2007 @5:21PM Lizzy said... I've tried to tell this to people before, and nobody believes me! It's sort of shocking to a lot of people that a store with such a funky, folksy, yet upscale image could be owned by ALDI. Ethis is especially shocking to people familiar with the sometimes scary super bare bones ALDIs in Europe. The ones in the US, from what I understand, are quite a bit nicer. (We don't have any in AZ, where I live, only Trader Joe's)

Incidentally, at the ALDIs in Germany, they have Trader Joe's branded items, and they cost quite a bit more than the ALDI branded items. I took pictures the last time I went to Germany, in hopes that finally somebody would believe me.
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1-18-2007 @8:23PM Cristiane said... MJ, I don't know where you are in NC, but there's a new Trader Joe's in Cary. (My parents live there, and are making their first foray this week - they're very excited about it.)
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1-15-2007 @11:54PM fethiye said... That's interesting. I would have never guessed!
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1-16-2007 @6:12PM Chef JoAnna said... aldi got me through college in chicago, because i could buy a whole bunch of food really cheap. i have such a love-hate relationship with that store. i remember their soda pop was the worst.
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1-16-2007 @5:28PM Jonathan Harford said... The only ALDIs I've ever been to were in Liverpool, England (and they were pretty trashy), so this blows my mind. It's like learning that McDonald's owns Niman Ranch or something.
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2-04-2007 @1:28AM Christa said... To those of you who are looking for Trader Joe's products, they are available on eBay now. Apparently, a few people figured out there is a growing number of people who need their TJs fix!!
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2-04-2007 @1:36AM Christa said... If you are looking for Trader Joe's products, check eBay!! My eBay store, GOURMET FOOD FOR LESS has a wide and growing variety of TJs non-perishables. Do take a look - and you can always email me with any requests for your favorite Trader Joe's products if you do not find them listed!! I would love to be your TJs personal shopper!! ~ Christa :D
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2-04-2007 @1:57PM MJ said... Thanks#9 Will make a special weekend trip that way. Not that too far from me, but far enough.......lol only a foodie would use up a day off just to go food shopping! Love it~
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