Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Shots Around the Sloop: The South Loop's Birther Issue
SouthLoopScott commented yesterday that Trader Joe's put a "coming soon" sign in the window of the new store on Roosevelt and Wabash. The reader joked "So much for the rumors of its demise...". This reminded us of the "birther" controversy with president Obama and we coined it the "The South Loop's Birther Issue". Anyway, here is the sign and can't wait for this store to open:
I'm just glad it's coming! Jewel will be seeing a lot less of my business that's for sure!
ReplyDeleteI will never go to that Jewel again!
ReplyDeleteThat being said, it's kinda odd that a discount grocer is getting so much hype on this blog. Guess it shows the desparate state of the sloop commercial scene.
You obviously do not understand the cultish following of Trader Joe's. And that's ok. But don't discount it as just another discount grocer!
ReplyDeleteAgree. I would assume most of the hype around Trader Joe's coming to the area is not related to the desperate state of the commercial scene, but because a lot of us are loyal to TJs and wouldn't shop anywhere else.
ReplyDeleteMetromix did a writeup on things coming soon to the South Loop and in it mentioned Q3 as the target for the TJ store opening. Although no specific date.
ReplyDeleteSorry to be negative Nancy here but I guess I just dont understand the cult following Trader Joes has.
ReplyDeleteI hope everyone knows that Aldi owns Trader Joes. Aldi is the German equivalent of WalMart. So when everyone boos Walmart and cheers TJ's I dont understand.
Look into their buying practices and where most of their private label foods come from. TJ does a great job of marketing itself as your neighborhood grocer and has cultivated a following of people that are health conscious, environmentally friendly, and care about local economies however TJ is anything but these.
I digress, welcome to the neighborhood!
Trade Joes is a unique establishment. It is nothing like Wal•Mart, or even Whole Foods which it's often compared to. It's not a discount grocer... it's its own thing. I've also never thought of it as a "neighborhood grocer." It's always been the place you drive an extra 20 minutes to get to because you can't get the things they sell anywhere else.
ReplyDeleteI'm thrilled they're coming the neighborhood.
Trader Joes is nothing like WalMart? In the sense of public perception your right. They are polar opposites.
ReplyDeleteBut in the sense of supply chain economics... they are the same.
Aldi is the parent company of Trader Joes. Just as Gap is the parent company of Banana Republic. Sure there is a marginal quality difference and a price mark-up but I think we can agree they are essentially the same.
Aldi(German company) last year in Germany alone put 35,000 small businesses out of business. Farmers and suppliers have complained for years that Aldi is causing the value of their goods to drop dramatically. Aldi dictates the market just as Walmart(US company) does.
They market themselves as your "friendly neighborhood grocer" not in the sense that they are right down the street literally in your neighborhood. But that they have a wholesome image. People we know worked there and liked it. They have organic food, care about the environment and etc. Its perceived as a great place. Opposite... Walmart with the sweat shop image and unhappy staff.
I think its great they are coming to the neighborhood. They have great food at a great price. All I'm saying is that they aren't the next best thing since sliced bread.
"I hope everyone knows that Aldi owns Trader Joes. Aldi is the German equivalent of WalMart. So when everyone boos Walmart and cheers TJ's I dont understand."
ReplyDeleteAs a German i can tell you Aldi is nothing like Walmart.
TJ is great because it offers a small selection of high end foods at decent prices instead of pissing away my time like Jewel does by offering my 100 different toilet paper choices. TJ cuts out all the crap and passes the savings on.
Aldi does not own Trader Joe's. Trader Joe's is owned by a family trust set up by one of the German founders of Aldi.
ReplyDeleteCall me uncaring or uninformed if you like, but Trader Joe's is a good product. If their supply chain economics are questionable, that's a shame. However, if I did all my shopping based on supply chain economics ratings, I'd have a hard time finding much in the area.
ReplyDeleteI dont think Sloopy realized how accurately this was described as the birther issue...
ReplyDeleteFirst, despite Trader Joes employees, website, managers, and customer relations department saying there was going to be a store, the birthers swore it was a hoax.
Now that Trader Joes has produced signage, Donald Trump over here starts talking about how its owned by Aldi. Trader Joes is not owned by Aldi, there is no evidence that is is owned by Aldi.
The trust fund that owns Trader Joes outright, also has a PARTIAL stake in Aldi, along with dozens of other assets. Aldi is a separate entity from Trader Joe's and nobody from Aldi has control of decisions made at Trader Joes.
This issue is now closed.
Thank you.
TJs has the best edamame, right?
From Wikipedia, take it for what it's worth:
ReplyDeleteTrader Joe's pays above-union wages: as of 2010, full-time crew members starting at $40–60,000 per year and store managers earning in the "low six figures."[2] It contributes to an employee's standard 401(k) plan.[2] As of 2004, pay for entry-level part-timers was $8 to $10 an hour.[5]
Trader Joe's also offers health insurance benefits (dental, vision, and medical) to part-time employees and their dependents. Part-time employees must work 900 hours per year (an average of 20 hours per week) and be employed for a minimum of three months consecutively to qualify. All part-time employees are evaluated every six months with the possibility of a pay increase. They also receive a 10 percent discount on items bought at the store.[22]
Doesn't sound anything like Walmart to me...
Wow lots of backlash on that comment. Trader Joes was purchased by Albrecht and it was put into a family trust. All that means is that the assets cant be disclosed. Trader Joes is run as a separate company. Very true. But it falls under Aldi Sud umbrella. There was a family rift and assets were divided and etc. When we are talking about a powerful corporation like ALDI its called economies of scale. Trader Joes takes advantage of that buying power.
ReplyDeleteThe owner of the cubs brother in law owns a Bison farm. Been to a cubs game in the last two years? Bison Dogs, Bison Hamburgers, Bison everything.
The only comparison I am making between Walmart and TJ(ALDI) is their supply chain economics.
"The only comparison I am making between Walmart and TJ(ALDI) is their supply chain economics."
ReplyDeleteAnd how is that relevant to the overall business? Is efficiency a negative trait now?
Technically, rather than being owned by ALDI, Trader Joe's is separate company owned by the same Family Trust that also owns Aldi, but I won't quibble...
ReplyDeleteAnyone who thinks TJ will substitute completely for Jewel obvious never needs one of about a million food products they don't carry. Their selection is very limited and anybody who cooks outside a very narrow range will be sadly disappointed.
I shop at TH's to stock up on things like their frozen products, and Triple Ginger Cookies (yum) but still need at least weekly runs to a full selection store.