Trader Joe's to open at The Summit

It’s the first of its kind, in Birmingham anyway.

Trader Joe's, a specialty grocery store that offers foreign and everyday food and beverages, signed a lease to open its first Alabama store at The Summit in the second half of 2015. It will be located at 209 Summit Blvd., and will be about 12,600 square-feet.

“There is a lot of opportunity in Birmingham, and it’s a great fit for Trader Joe’s,” said press contact Alison Mochizuki.

Trader Joe's carries an assortment of domestic and imported groceries including fresh baked artisan breads, Arabica bean coffees, international frozen entrées, 100 percent fruit juices, fresh crop nuts, deli items and vitamins as well as the basics such as milk and eggs.

 The store also provides about 3000 items under the Trader Joe’s private label, which includes Trader José's salsas, Trader Ming’s fried rice and Trader Giotto’s marinara sauces.

The products offered at Trader Joe’s are purchased differently than other grocers because the store purchases from manufacturers not distributors. They take brand name products and place them under the Trader Joe’s label to sell at discounted prices. This allows Trader Joe’s to maintain its prices, which only change when costs change.

For more information about Trader Joe’s, visit traderjoes.com.