Does Aldi Own Trader Joe’S In 2022? (You’Ll Be Surprised)
Its laid-back Californian vibe, low prices, unique items, and California-like feel have earned Trader Joe’s a cult-status among the masses. Facebook groups are set up and there are entire websites and social media pages dedicated to the store chain that has 500 stores across 43 states.
Does Aldi Own Trader Joe’s In 2022?
Aldi owns Trader Joe’s but this isn’t the Aldi store that North American customers are familiar with. Aldi Nord now owns Trader Joe’s. The company was established by two brothers who created the Albrecht Discount in Germany. Aldi Sud oversees Aldi US operations.
Do There Exist Two Aldi’s in the World?
Two Aldi entities exist. Before we get to the specifics of which Aldi company took over Trader Joe’s, let’s first understand a bit more about the Albrecht family’s history.
It is interesting that the Albrecht matriarch founded the first family grocery store in Essen in early 1900s. But, after two World Wars and a deteriorating economy, Germany was in dire straits. The Albrecht brothers Theo, Karl and John returned from the second world war to take over management of the store.
They saw that the situation was dire and the brothers decided to create their own niche by selling pantry products at very low prices. Their company expanded and was able open several stores across Germany.
They got along well up until the 1960s when Karl and Theo couldn’t decide whether they wanted to stop selling cigarettes. Karl opposed the idea because he believed it would encourage shoplifters. Theo agreed with Karl.
They split and Theo took control of Aldi Nord, while Karl took over Aldi Sud.
What Year Did Aldi Nord Retake Trader Joe’s Restaurant?
Aldi Sud managed to reach the US in 1976. Importantly, Aldi Nord also acquired Trader Joe’s within three year.
They were searching for an entry point in the States, not confusing shoppers with sharing names with existing chains.
Joe Coulombe, founder of Trader Joe’s (yes there is a Joe!) founded the business in 1979. His business was sold to Theo Albrecht who is the CEO of Aldi Nord.
A writer at AldiReviewer.com actually reached out to Trader Joe’s to learn how closely Aldi Nord and Trader Joe’s are operated, and the TJ rep responded that the two entities do operate independently of each other.
Aldi Nord’s subsidiary Trader Joe’s operates in its own territory.
What Is Trader Joe’s?
Theo Albrecht bought Trader Joe’s in California as a way to make a sound investment.
Joe Coulombe is a Stanford University Graduate who founded Trader Joe’s. Coulombe worked in convenience shops and drugstores before he started his own business. Coulombe acquired six Pronto Markets, which he was managing.
It was late 1950. In the intervening years, Coulombe had changed up his business model, making his stores stand out amidst the plague of 7-Elevens with unique and eclectic finds.
In the 1960s, the chain changed its name to Trader Joe’s in honor of a Los Angeles tiki restaurant (“Trader Vic’s”) Aldi Nord accepted their offer shortly thereafter.
You can see why. Coulombe’s business model included more than simply finding random things and then putting them all together.
No, he rather curated high-end goods out of items that had been discontinued or constituted overstocks , and because he was able to obtain them so cheaply, he could pass the savings into the customer. Does this sound familiar to you?
Whether or not that type of product (high-end/gourmet foods at low prices) made the Aldi Nord purchase of Trader Joe’s intentional, today it’s one of the biggest draws for both Aldi Sud and Trader Joe’s stores, and part of the reason middle-to-upper-class shoppers flock to both.
Are Trader Joe’s and Aldi Selling The Same Products?
Some claim that Trader Joe’s US and Aldi US get their products from the same wholesalers, but we don’t have any evidence to support that. However, the stores carry similar products and one example suggests that Aldi may have copied.
The most well-known example is Trader Joe’s cult favorite Everything But the Bagel, which was launched in 2017. Two years later Aldi released their own version, under their Stonemill seasonings label, simply called Everything Bagel Seasoning.
There are other similar products, though, like cheap wine (Trader Joe’s sells Two-Buck Chuck, while Aldi has their Winking Owl brand for about $2.50/bottle), fancy-looking cheeses, naan bread and almond butter.
It appears that Trader Joe’s stores carry a greater variety of similar products, since Aldi’s inventory is constrained by space and design. Think of granola and fruit spreads with pickles or pickles.
The pantry staples section at Trader Joe is less extensive than the one on the website. However, you can find a few basic items by looking online at the “For the Pantry”. Aldi has the same 5-lb bag for all-purpose flour for $1.15, but it costs $3.99 for theirs.
There is overlap between their product lines, but they are both competing for disposable income. Both have made it their mission, to sell at low prices.
It could also be said that Trader Joe’s or Aldi occupy very distinct niches while occasionally crossing over to each other’s lane.
Do Trader Joe’s and Aldi have a better taste than Joe?
Aldi’s stock consists mainly of store labels, with Trader Joe’s making up the remaining 80 percent. It is not clear how these two brands compare with each other in terms of quality.
Aldi is almost the clear winner in this one crucial area. Here’s why. Trader Joe’s is known to have bad produce.
TJ’s fruits and vegetables were the topic of an entire article by a writer for thekitchn.com. This included comments on the over-packaging and bulk packaging (potentially leading in waste at home).
While Aldi produce has its share of detractors , the chain has upped their game in recent years, sourcing locally and receiving shipments daily.
Aldi and TJ’s have similar produce quality, but we think they are almost equal. Both stores deliver, especially in the fun, unique food categories. Shoppers love the Trader Joe’s vegan Bolognese, black truffle cashew pesto and French onion macar & cheese.
Aldi has a lot to offer: Girl Scout cookie duplicates (for as low as $4/package), super affordable centre-cut bacon, and more! and pineapple mimosa bottles.
Trader Joe’s is owned by Aldi Nord, a separate entity from Aldi Sud, which operates Aldi US and all its stores here in the United States.
Even though the distinction may be confusing (and even misleading), at first, ultimately the differences have led to some fierce competition, and the resulting innovation on both sides has made grocery shopping a lot of fun.
Aldi’S Owned Trader Joe’S
Aldi Nord holds Trader Joe’s store in the States. But the Aldi Sud-run stores you can see in the States is independent from Trader Joe’s. These chains can be compared to distant cousins. May 1, 2019.
Aldi is Opening New Stores in 2022.
Aldi U.S. aims to increase its U.S. store count by 150 in 2022. Its expansion along the Gulf Coast regions will see the deep discount retailer reach the 38th US state. Aldi U.S., based in Batavia in Illinois, announced Tuesday that they plan to open a Lafayette location on February 10th. It will be the first Aldi store opened in Louisiana.
Brothers own Trader Joe’S & Aldi
A popular misconception about Aldi U.S. BB #:116756 is that it’s a sibling company, or at least a cousin, to Trader Joe’s BB #:162286. This is false. While the two chains have some similarities, with both following a low-price, private-label-dependent strategy, they are independently owned and operated.Jul 19, 2019
.Does Aldi Own Trader Joe’S In 2022? (You’Ll Be Surprised)