2015 year in preview: Trader Joe’s sparks interest

The second half of 2015 will bring a colorful, Hawaiian twist to The Summit. 

Specialty grocery store Trader Joe’s will bring its employees clad in festive luau uniform to its first Alabama location at 209 Summit Blvd. It will take over the space currently occupied by Banana Republic and span about 12,600 square feet.

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

The chain now operates more than 400 locations in 40 states. It began in the 1950s in Los Angeles as Pronto Markets, a small chain of convenience stores. Then in 1967, the “Trader” Joe Coulombe changed its name and business model.

The chain purchases products direct from suppliers whenever possible and bargains to get the best price, which passes savings on to customers. It also does not charge their suppliers fees for putting an item on the shelf like other grocery stores do because it results in higher prices. 

Today 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. 

Its products also come with no artificial flavors or preservatives, synthetic colors, MSG, genetically modified ingredients, artificial trans-fats or marketing costs. 

There are about 3,000 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. Ten to 15 new products are introduced every week in the stores.

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