Help me bring Trader Joe's to NOLA

[mightyradgumbo]

Alright, y'all I know this should be posted somewhere else but truly I do not post on any other for the categories..feel free to move it if you want CJ or FD and I apologize for my blatant laziness in advance.

There is a website: http://www.traderjoesfan.com

They are not affiliated with TJs at all but there is a forum on there for new store requests. I emailed the moderator of that bored and asked how successful this post has been historically. He stated, unofficially, so don't quote them (or me:D ) that they believe someone from the store does read their bored as there have been some successes in the past.

Soooooo, I figgered since we have talked about the love of TJs on several occasions I would get the ball rolling since the request has fallen on deaf ears individually from a band of us rogue TJ shoppers now living in the city when emailing the corporate office.

I suggested Magazine Street or maybe out in suburbia on Vets or Clearview. I would really love to see them invest in New Orleans proper but at this point I would be happy to have one regionally located.

Thanks for listening, we return you to your regularly scheduled thread.

[festivalgirl]

Alright, y'all I know this should be posted somewhere else but truly I do not post on any other for the categories..feel free to move it if you want CJ or FD and I apologize for my blatant laziness in advance.

There is a website: http://www.traderjoesfan.com

They are not affiliated with TJs at all but there is a forum on there for new store requests. I emailed the moderator of that bored and asked how successful this post has been historically. He stated, unofficially, so don't quote them (or me:D ) that they believe someone from the store does read their bored as there have been some successes in the past.

Soooooo, I figgered since we have talked about the love of TJs on several occasions I would get the ball rolling since the request has fallen on deaf ears individually from a band of us rogue TJ shoppers now living in the city when emailing the corporate office.

I suggested Magazine Street or maybe out in suburbia on Vets or Clearview. I would really love to see them invest in New Orleans proper but at this point I would be happy to have one regionally located.

Thanks for listening, we return you to your regularly scheduled thread.

I have talked to/written them (Trader Joe's directly) quite a few times about opening stores in NOLA. They've never said yes or no. I'll be happy to write again!!

[mightyradgumbo]

I have talked to/written them (Trader Joe's directly) quite a few times about opening stores in NOLA. They've never said yes or no. I'll be happy to write again!!

This is actually a website not owned by TJs. While going through some marketing and CRM stuff that I had to do for school, I just happened upon the site. I believe you and I and others that email TJs directly do not coordinate it so this is a single location )that I have been told is read by store personnel for feedback) where we can post our collective support. I am not sure if you have to register but it looks like a pretty well-maintained site, if you are so inclined to register. Thanks for your help!

[sophisticated sissy]

Here is one very good reason not to shop at Trader Joe's:


http://go.greenpeaceusa.org/seafood/scorecards/scorecard_top20.pdf


They rank lower than mallWart in this category. :(

[mightyradgumbo]

Here is one very good reason not to shop at Trader Joe's:


http://go.greenpeaceusa.org/seafood/scorecards/scorecard_top20.pdf


They rank lower than mallWart in this category. :(

I can appreciate that, Sissy but given their overall quality and other attributes I believe TJs is far superior to many grocers (especially WalMart) in its shopping experience. Also I am not entirely sure how to read this scorecard. What are the red list species? They have less species on sale than the highest ranking company on the list. So this tells me they lost in the packaging game or maybe they do not disclose their sourcing policy. Greenpeace is a great organization for its efforts but one thing I have found in my years of enviromental analytics is that they are often the pot calling the kettle black on issues of transparancy, IMHO.

[sophisticated sissy]

Info about the Red List:

http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/campaigns/oceans/seafood


Canned tuna from Thailand? Pickles from India? We have a TJ's locally, but there is a plethora of retailers here, as well as locally grown produce to stock the pantry. I can get better cheese prices at Findlay Market here or at Costco than at TJ's.

Buy locally is my mantra. There is an organic vegetable farm within minutes of where I live. It is sited on 350 acres.They also raise organic, grass fed beef there.

Now, if you wanna talk Two Buck Chuck, that is a different matter. However, it is not worth it to me personally to drive 40 minutes each way to pick it up.

BTW, there was a most enlightening and entertaining article about 2 Buck Chuck wines in last week's New Yorker magazine. You could probably read it online if you wanted to.

As for Greenpeace, they have been around a lot longer than TJ's. I have been a supporter of Greenpeace since the late 70s.

[sophisticated sissy]

... but given their overall quality ...

A lot of their stuff is "rebranded". Most major grocers do this. It's just a matter of labeling. I recognize the cult like following of TJ's, but have to confess to not getting it! :)

[Zydekitten]

OMG! I would SO love to have a TJs here in NOLA and I've communicated with them regarding exactly that . . . so I'll be happy to follow that up via this other website!

[Zydekitten]

Info about the Red List:

http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/campaigns/oceans/seafood


Canned tuna from Thailand? Pickles from India? We have a TJ's locally, but there is a plethora of retailers here, as well as locally grown produce to stock the pantry. I can get better cheese prices at Findlay Market here or at Costco than at TJ's.

Buy locally is my mantra. There is an organic vegetable farm within minutes of where I live. It is sited on 350 acres.They also raise organic, grass fed beef there.

Now, if you wanna talk Two Buck Chuck, that is a different matter. However, it is not worth it to me personally to drive 40 minutes each way to pick it up.

BTW, there was a most enlightening and entertaining article about 2 Buck Chuck wines in last week's New Yorker magazine. You could probably read it online if you wanted to.

As for Greenpeace, they have been around a lot longer than TJ's. I have been a supporter of Greenpeace since the late 70s.
I too appreciate your concerns as a fellow supporter of Greenpeace since the late 70's . . . however regarding this list - there are only 4 retailers on it that have a presence in NOLA: Whole "Paycheck" Foods, Target, WalMart and Winn-Dixie.

I won't shop at WalMart for many reasons (how they treat their employees, male and female; the effects their business model has on local, small businesses, etc.). Target really doesn't sell seafood (other than canned) and any fresh produce at all; Winn-Dixie is okay, but that's about all - and Whole Foods is just too damn expensive for the most part. We also don't have Costco (something else I REALLY miss) - only Sam's Club, and if I don't shop at WalMart - I'm damn well not gonna shop at Sam's Club.

While TJ's is not known for their fresh produce, and that's never been one of their main areas of focus - they do provide natural and world foods at a good value, which I appreciate. I'll still go to the farmers market or Rouse's for high quality/low price produce.

Perhaps the Cincy area is better at providing low cost, natural foods than New Orleans is at this time . . . sadly, we just don't have a lot of options in that area. Hell, even in BFE Nevada County, California - there were at least 4 natural food stores/co-ops (and we're talking about a MUCH smaller population than either Cincinnati or even New Orleans)!

Sadly, I think this goes back to the classic model of supply and demand: there hasn't been an enormous demand for natural food stores at lower prices until recent times. So Gumbo is right; it won't happen if we don't demand it . . .

Once we get one here - we can work on convincing TJ's to be a better seafood citizen (which I think is a valid and worthy mission).

[stlbarb]

A lot of their stuff is "rebranded". Most major grocers do this. It's just a matter of labeling. I recognize the cult like following of TJ's, but have to confess to not getting it! :)

tj sells fair trade coffee.

[Fred (Texas JF Fanatic)]

tj sells fair trade coffee.

from: www.doseydoe.com (Kewl music venue in the Houston area)

Many coffees stating to be Free Trade and/or Organic are not as there is no single governing body to determine the truth in that labeling. Unfortunately, everyone takes advantage to the point that the labels are worthless. There is a move in the industry to have a central body test and validate both criteria. We are in support of that effort

[sophisticated sissy]

That's a good point, Fred. I favor California's 3rd party certification criteria for organics. Also, my favorite peanut butter Deaf Smith, from Deaf Smith county in the great state of Texas, is 3rd party certified organic. It'd be fantastic if something like this could be done with coffee. I guess it's a matter of consumer demand.

[glinda]

I love Trader Joe's! There's one 5 minutes away.

They have a better selection of organic & free range (eggs, pork, chicken) foods than most local stores. I don't usually buy seafood there. They have a great selection of wines, many cheap. They treat their employees well, so they are usually in a great mood. They locally source a lot of their produce, bakery, meats, etc. My few regular purchases of frozen, ready-to-eat stuff are all from there, and all fantastic: mac & cheese, veggie enchiladas, Maitre Pierre flat bread w/ ham, caramelized onions, and gruyere cheese (like a French pizza, mmmmm).

[mightyradgumbo]

Info about the Red List:

http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/campaigns/oceans/seafood
As for Greenpeace, they have been around a lot longer than TJ's. I have been a supporter of Greenpeace since the late 70s.

Oh I beg to differ on that point, Sissy. Greenpeace was founded in 1971. Trader Joes as its current incarnation was founded in 1966. The Joe of Trader Joe's actually started the stores to compete with 7/11 as Pronto Market in the 50s.

Look I agree no grocer is infallable in their design and sure TJs could prolly do better in some areas. The point I am trying to make with this post is that there are peeps on this bored that want a TJs in NOLA and we like TJs warts and all (far less warts in my opinion than many stores). The quality of their products are good. The employees like to work there~I know several of them personally that work in Boston area stores. They have unique products that are not found many other places and their prices are good. That says a lot to me, but as Zydekitten is often apt to say~to each their peach.

[sophisticated sissy]

... but as Zydekitten is often apt to say~to each their peach.

Right you are, and Trader Theo's definitely ain't my peach. :) Like you say, this is a public forum, so it could be reasonable to anticipate different views on any given topic.

My response to your "jump on the Trader Joe bandwagon invitation" is not just about food- it is also food for thought.

So, maybe some of Trader Joe's loyal customers who also care about the oceans and fish could point out to them that they could use a little P.R. in this area and clean up their act regarding the Greenpeace Red List. You were not aware of the Red List, so maybe the TJ peeps aren't either. Like you say, they're just a grocery store chain.

As for the the longevity of the TJ chain, I'm certain that they have not been a national chain since 1958. However, thank you for correcting me about which of the two entities being discussed here was first founded. I suppose I had the time of the founding of Greenpeace confused with Jacques Cousteau's organization.

It's a free country and we can shop where we like and, by the same token, privately boycott those businesses who adhere to practices that are not environmentally sustainable. I choose not to shop Trader Joe's. I thank you for the opportunity to bring up the issue of Greenpeace's Red List.

[Baconwrapped]

TJ's in the pre-flood days had apparently looked at what was then the Whole Foods site on Esplanade (now Canseco's), but felt it was too small for them. (TJ's also in general looks for buildings with on-site parking.)

I love Trader Joe's... been shopping there since the mid-'70s when it was a just a handful of stores in the Los Angeles area. These days I live walking distance from one and basically do all my shopping there and at our neighborhood farmer's market. They seem to treat their workers well, are active, responsible community members and have food I like for good prices. Is TJ's perfect? Of course not. They used very wasteful packaging on produce (though there are valid economic and reduced spoilage reasons for some of it), and I'm sure there are other issues as well. But in the world of corporate grocery chains (and it is a major corporation now), there are always going to be some issues of concern.

[festivalgirl]

TJ's in the pre-flood days had apparently looked at what was then the Whole Foods site on Esplanade (now Canseco's), but felt it was too small for them. (TJ's also in general looks for buildings with on-site parking.)

I love Trader Joe's... been shopping there since the mid-'70s when it was a just a handful of stores in the Los Angeles area. These days I live walking distance from one and basically do all my shopping there and at our neighborhood farmer's market. They seem to treat their workers well, are active, responsible community members and have food I like for good prices. Is TJ's perfect? Of course not. They used very wasteful packaging on produce (though there are valid economic and reduced spoilage reasons for some of it), and I'm sure there are other issues as well. But in the world of corporate grocery chains (and it is a major corporation now), there are always going to be some issues of concern.

I hear ya' ..... we'd starve without TJ's. I've never seen a store (of any kind) where the same employee's have been there for years, remember who you are & what products you like. I never feel ripped off when I walk out of a TJ's. (I would rather dumpster dive than spend even one penny at Whole Foods).

Their brand name products are high quality. I like that they tell you where the seafood is from and if it is line caught or farmed. I was surprised to see they were listed as having 14 different seafood items on the bad list. I've never seen 14 different varieties in the store.

[nyc gal]

The empty "Roberts" on ... is it Tchoupitoulas? by the Convention Center, just past the highway, would do quite nicely....

[nyc gal]

How about an IKEA for all of those folks who are re-building?

[Baconwrapped]

The empty "Roberts" on ... is it Tchoupitoulas? by the Convention Center, just past the highway, would do quite nicely....

There's an empty one of those on Carrolton also, I believe...

[mightyradgumbo]

There's an empty one of those on Carrolton also, I believe...

Canal and Carrolton, you are correct. There is another Robert's being built (and has been for some time) a couple of blocks away. They halted building for economic reason from what I have heard. Another reason TJs should come here. They do not start building unless they know they can move within the time frame when they state.