Inside Trader Joe's

Fade in on an empty building. Four walls, some windows, not much else. How does that empty space become a bustling neighborhood grocery store? It’s a good story, and one that involves a whole bunch of hard-working, super talented people. In Part One, we’ll talk to the folks who find the perfect location and the folks who get stuff built. We also get to chat with some Crew Members getting the store ready to welcome their neighbors. It’s a lot of work, and these folks are having a great time doing it. Have a listen, and look out for Part Two, coming next week to a podcast app near you. Transcript (PDF)

Summertime… and the shopping is delicious… It really is. Our shelves are stocked with returning favorites like Jalapeño Limeade and Dill Pickle Mustard, plus exciting new arrivals like Jalapeño Lime Crunch and Seasoning in a (Dill) Pickle (we’re sensing a theme here). Discover a new favorite while you’re listening? Make haste to your neighborhood Trader Joe’s, because like the season itself, many of these summertime products will only be around for a limited time. Check out the whole list: Brazil Nut Body Scrub Cashew Butter Cashews Cherries Dill Pickle Mustard Horchata Ice Cream Jalapeño Lime Crunch Jalapeño Limeade Nectarines Peaches Pineapple Sparkling Water Seasoning in a Pickle Seedless Watermelons Sparkling Pineapple Juice Beverage Strawberry Basil Vinaigrette Ube Ice Cream Ube Spread Watermelon & Peach Macarons Transcript (PDF)

When we set out to produce a podcast, our goal was a five-part series to take listeners Inside Trader Joe’s, literally and figuratively. Now here we are, episode 50! In this episode, we take you truly inside, traveling to Trader Joe’s stores in Portland, Maine and Portland, Oregon, where we get the inside scoop about what makes Trader Joe’s a special place to shop and to work, from the folks who really know all the inside info – our Crew Members! Transcript (PDF)

We get questions all the time. Questions like, why are your parking lots so… unique? Why did you discontinue my favorite product? What’s it like to work at Trader Joe’s? We have this tendency to just assume people know this stuff, because we live it, every day. So we’re launching a series of mini episodes we’re calling ITJ ICYMI: Inside Trader Joe’s In Case You Missed It. For the first ICYMI, What’s It Like to Work at Trader Joe’s? Transcript (PDF)

This is, without a doubt, our most hacktacular episode yet! What does that even mean? It means this episode is chock-full of inspired uses for your some of your favorite TJ’s products. How to make your flowers last longer and stand straighter… check. How to make simple meals in minutes using ingredients you might not have thought to put together… check. Delicious and unexpected dessert ideas… check, check, check! We’re sharing creative ideas shared with us by Trader Joe’s Crew Members from around the country… these folks know their stuff! Do you have favorite hacks for your favorite Trader Joe’s products? Share them with us at podcastquestions@traderjoes.com, and we may just feature them in a future Hacktastic episode.  Transcript (PDF)

Everyone loves a list, right? And if that list leads to deliciousness, then even better. Right? Yes. This episode of Inside Trader Joe’s delivers a shopping list packed with some of our favorite offerings for the season. From sparkling tea to serious wine, and custard tarts to truffle crunchies, spring is in full bloom in every aisle… Listen in and you’re sure to have a spring in your step as you spring into action and spring forward to your neighborhood Trader Joe’s. Transcript (PDF) Video Link: How to Build a Choc-uterie Dessert Board Shopping List Sour Cream & Onion Rings Fancy Cheese Crunchies Spring Cupcake Mix Organic Poppyseed Dressing Grapefruit Scented Candle Retinol Night Serum When Life Gives You Lemons Make Ice Cream Portuguese Custard Tarts 4 Cheese Pastry Rolls Springle Jangle Ricotta and Lemon Zest Ravioli Grain Free Cheeseburger Dog Treats Sparkling White Tea w/ Pomegranate Trader Joe's Reserve Oak Knoll Merlot Trader Joe's Reserve Edna Valley Pinot Noir  

In this episode of Inside Trader Joe’s, we get to chat with the folks who design the packages and labels for your favorite Trader Joe’s products, as well as one of the people who makes sure all the information on that package or label is accurate. Ever wonder where the inspiration for the design on the Instant Cold Brew Coffee jar came from? Whose pets are on the treat packages? Or who the heck decides what a serving size is? This, podcast friends, is the episode for you! Transcript (PDF)

It’s awards season, and time for our products to walk the red carpet. The votes have been counted, and on this episode of Inside Trader Joe’s, all the winners are revealed. Favorite Entree? Check. Vegan and Vegetarian faves? Check. Favorite Overall? Check. It. Out. Listen in to find out if your favorite is a winner, or just honored to be nominated!  Transcript (PDF)

From the humble garbanzo bean, the unassuming chickpea, comes the most delicious of dips, hummus. In this episode of Inside Trader Joe’s, we’re humming our favorite tunes, and they’re all about hummus! Listen in as we get a little history of hummus, learn about the state of the hummus at TJ’s, and visit two of our trusted hummus suppliers to find out how the heck they make all that hummus – 85,000 pounds of Mediterranean Hummus a week? You bet your garbs! Transcript (PDF)

As we wind down another year on the calendar, this episode of Inside Trader Joe’s is a celebration of the nearly 55,000 Crew Members in the 530 (and counting!) Trader Joe’s stores across the country. Their hard work and dedication make Trader Joe’s a favorite place to shop in neighborhoods from Portland, Oregon to Portland Maine, and San Diego to Miami. We’d like to raise a glass and say “Cheers!” to every Trader Joe’s Crew Member, in every store, every day. Transcript (PDF)

Holiday shopping? Don’t forget to stock up on stocking stuffers, gifts for wrapping, and treats for the most important person on your list… you! In this episode of Inside Trader Joe’s, we’re decking the halls and walking the aisles of your neighborhood Trader Joe’s, shining the holiday spotlight on some new, limited-edition holiday selections, as well as some returning festive favorites. From wine to oatmeal and chocolate to Brussels sprouts, discovery is the name of the game if you’re looking to add fun and deliciousness to your holiday season. Transcript (PDF)

In this episode of Inside Trader Joe’s, we’re travelling to California’s wine country. Our journey takes us through the stunning Sonoma Valley, where we chat with some of the folks who make the wine you’ll find at your neighborhood Trader Joe’s. We get up close and personal with some grapes and learn about the work that goes into turning those grapes into delightfully drinkable bottles of wine. And we uncover the secret behind all the great values you’ll find in our wine section (spoiler alert: it’s not actually a secret). Transcript (PDF)

Value – it’s always a good time to talk about value. Look around your neighborhood Trader Joe’s and you’ll see value on every shelf, every day. Those values don’t happen by accident; they’re the result of our Buying Philosophy in action. (Yes, we’re a grocery store with a philosophy.) What does that Buying Philosophy mean to you and how does it impact what you pay at the cash register? This episode of Inside Trader Joe’s goes inside the Buying Philosophy – why we do it, how it works, and most importantly, what it means for you at the cash register, every time you shop.   Transcript (PDF)

If pasta is your passion and olives are what you live for, consider this episode of Inside Trader Joe’s a table set for you! We dive into the Mediterranean region in a conversation with an Italian pasta supplier; we get some good info on the state of pasta, olives, and olive oil on our grocery shelves, and we travel to California to chat with a producer of Extra Virgin Olive Oil crafted in the Golden State. You can get an inside look at how this particular EVOO is made – from harvest to table – on our YouTube channel, here.   Transcript (PDF)

Once again, we’re falling head over pumpkin for fall. In this episode of Inside Trader Joe’s you’ll get a sneak peek at some of our favorite new stuff, like Pumpkin Alfredo Sauce and Pumpkin Oat Beverage, and even some things that have no pumpkin at all (gasp!), like Butternut Mac & Cheese Bites and Maple Walnut Biscotti. Grab a pen and a piece of paper - you’re going to want to make a list.  Transcript (PDF)

Summer’s here, and the time is right, for shopping at Trader Joe’s. Whether you’re snacking, sipping, slathering, or sizzling at the barbecue, this episode of Inside Trader Joe’s has just the thing to satisfy your seasonal cravings. Returning faves like Key Lime Cookies & summer-fresh stone fruits take their place alongside new arrivals Brazil Nut Body Butter and Sparkling Green Tea with Pineapple. And we have advance scoop on soon-to-be-available Carolina Gold BBQ Chips and Garlic Bread Cheese. Have a listen and perhaps you’ll be dancin’ in the street on the way to your neighborhood Trader Joe’s. Transcript (PDF)

Are you Team Spices or Team Spicy? On this episode of Inside Trader Joe’s, we make the case that you can serve both squads, with delicious results. A heated conversation with our resident seasoning alchemist (aka Spices Category Manager) reveals an abundance of seasonings from savory to spicy; and we challenge a Crew Member’s palate with Trader Joe’s products spanning the spicy spectrum.      Transcript (PDF)

Have you ever thought about why cheese melts the way it does? Or why some cheeses melt differently than others? And further to that, why some cheeses don’t really melt at all, but just get a little soft? On this episode of Inside Trader Joe’s, our very own “Professor Matt” explains it all to you, with a little help from our resident cheese expert, Kim. From enzymes to acid, and fresh cheese to aged, we bring you the art and science behind one of the best ways to enjoy “milk’s leap toward immortality,” cheese. Stop what you’re doing and melt with us.   Transcript (PDF)

Spring is just around the corner, and while some focus on spring cleaning, we instead focus on our favorite seasonal activity, spring eating. (Actually, that's our favorite activity every season.) There are new products arriving in our stores every day, from sweet treats like Chocolate & Peanut Butter Joe Joe's to savory delights like Oven Baked Cheese Bites with Tomato and Chili. In this episode of Inside Trader Joe's, we present a baker's dozen of our new favorites that are sure to put a spring in your step. Transcript (PDF)

In this episode of Inside Trader Joe’s, we step into the icy wonderland of Trader Joe’s freezer case and find a treasure trove of deliciousness ready to become dinner in minutes. From powerhouses like Mandarin Orange Chicken and Cauliflower Gnocchi to newer arrivals like Breaded Fried Ravioli and Branzino Fillets, there’s always something easy to prepare and even easier to eat. And the delights don’t stop at dinner… you’ll find options for breakfast, appetizers, and especially dessert. Ice Cream (and more!), anyone?  Transcript (PDF)