Lots of people LOVE Trader Joe’s.
And it’s not hard to see why!
The Hawaiian shirts (for managers), the friendly staff, the delicious food (Try the Tikka Masala in their frozen section)…
There’s all kinds of great stuff to enjoy. It’s certainly FAR better than your typical grocery store.
However…there are a handful of stores giving TJ’s a run for its money, and whose fans will swear are even better than the California-based chain…
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Is that just sour grapes from all the foods TJ’s has discontinued over the years?
Or is it indicative of something more?
I’ll let you make that call.
Starting with one of my personal favorites…
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Where you’ll find them: Wegmans is a New York-based chain of 110+ grocery stores that has been slowly creeping down the East Coast for the last several years. About half of their stores are in New York, with most of the rest stretching south down the eastern seaboard to North Carolina.
Why they’re better: Selection and quality. You can do all of your shopping at Wegmans (instead of having to split among multiple stores), and all the food is fantastic. (Especially their cheese section!) Try out their store-made food too – from sushi to Naan pizza to chicken wings, it’s all excellent.
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Where you’ll find them: Sprouts has more than 400 locations across 23 states spanning both coasts.
Why they’re better: Superior produce and sustainability. Fruits and veggies at Sprouts are absolutely the best of the bunch, and they carry a ton of organic and zero waste products.
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Where you’ll find them: Eastern half of the United States, especially New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Florida. They’re gradually moving west, with one location in Oklahoma and a few in Illinois.
Why they’re better: Fresh Market’s store-made section is fantastic. Their baked goods are great (try the Napoleons), as are their boxed lunches, sandwiches, and pizzas.
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Where you’ll find them: Pretty much every big city in the US (and a lot of the smaller ones too).
Why they’re better: Whole Foods can’t compete with Trader Joe’s on price, but they offer far greater selection and lots of allergy-friendly and organic options as well.
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Where you’ll find them: Throughout most of the United States aside from the interior West – with heavy concentrations in Florida, Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
Why they’re better: Aldi is owned by the same family that owns TJ’s, so it’s no surprise that in many ways they’re comparable. Like TJ’s, Aldi doesn’t have everything you need – you’ll have to shop elsewhere from time to time – but it has really championed no-frills shopping. So the prices are amazing.
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Where you’ll find them: Colorado
Why they’re better: Good prices, great organic products, and fun company culture that translates to a great in-store experience – with friendly and helpful staff.
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Where you’ll find them: Everywhere you need one – Costco has almost 900 locations in over a dozen countries, with almost 700 in the United States alone.
Why they’re better: Buy in bulk, save lots of money. Plus, let’s face it, lots more free samples than Trader Joe’s offers. (Sorry TJs!)
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• For fun lists, healthy living tips, and bar conversation topics, make sure to follow The Coconut Mama. Click here to access The Coconut Mama’s profile page and be sure to hit the Follow button here or at the top of this article!
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Where you’ll find them: Just in Texas. For now.
Why they’re better: Great baked and packaged foods, lots of fresh produce. They’re an institution in South Texas!
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Where you’ll find them: 43 out of the 50 states with the about a third of the 600 stores in California.
Why they’re better: Unique stuff with inspired combinations from all over the world. Trader Joe’s isn’t the place to go when you NEED something, but it’s the place to go when you want to be thrilled!
You didn’t think we’d leave without making the case for Trader Joe’s, did you? But is it the best…
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So there you have it – eight grocery stores whose fans will tell you are clearly better than Trader Joe’s.
Who did we miss?
Who haven’t you tried yet?
Let us know in the comments!
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