I agree with sundevilpeg; I think Trader Joe's prices for perishables are extraordinary, but not the way the the author of that article means.

Quirky, cult-like, aspirational, but affordable: The rise and rise of Trader Joe’s
By Elaine Watson+, 15-Apr-2014

If you want to see what success looks like in US grocery retailing, look no further than Trader Joe’s. Its unique combination of affordable prices, innovative private label items and gourmet, organic, and natural foods have helped drive sales per square foot to a jaw-dropping $1,723 versus an industry average of $521 (even Whole Foods can only manage $973), according to Packaged Facts estimates.

http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Market ... ader-Joe-s

There is an interesting comparative chart comparing Whole Foods and Trader Joes.

Hi- It is interesting that 47% of the shoppers at Trader Joe's make $100,000 or more. The article also mentioned that the store is gearing itself to single people and small families, and not large families.

Things I've appreciated finding at Trader Joe's lately are bags of lightly salted cashews and almonds (containing about half the salt of regular--so a good compromise, taste- and health-wise, between salt-free and regular), and pistachio nutmeats (i.e., shelled pistachios). These are not easily found other places.

riddlemay wrote:Things I've appreciated finding at Trader Joe's lately are bags of lightly salted cashews and almonds (containing about half the salt of regular--so a good compromise, taste- and health-wise, between salt-free and regular), and pistachio nutmeats (i.e., shelled pistachios). These are not easily found other places.

Are the pistachios salted or unsalted? Costco carries large bags of shelled roasted+salted, but they're less useful for baklava.

JoelF wrote:

riddlemay wrote:Things I've appreciated finding at Trader Joe's lately are bags of lightly salted cashews and almonds (containing about half the salt of regular--so a good compromise, taste- and health-wise, between salt-free and regular), and pistachio nutmeats (i.e., shelled pistachios). These are not easily found other places.

Are the pistachios salted or unsalted? Costco carries large bags of shelled roasted+salted, but they're less useful for baklava.

The pistachios are unsalted. Because of that, when I combine them in a canister with Trader Joes' half-salt almonds and cashews, the resulting blend contains approx. 33% the amount of salt that would be in the equivalent mixture of "regular salt" nuts. (If my arithmetic is right.)

NFriday wrote:Hi- It is interesting that 47% of the shoppers at Trader Joe's make $100,000 or more. The article also mentioned that the store is gearing itself to single people and small families, and not large families.

Actually, the article says that while 46% of Trader Joe shoppers make $100,000+, an equal number make $25,000 to $99,000.

riddlemay wrote:The pistachios are unsalted.

A minor correction to my above. I was in Trader Joe's again today, and the pistachio nutmeats are available unsalted and salted.

Funny piece about Trader Joe's that has a lot of truth behind it:

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/food ... joe_s.html

So in my experience my local TJ's is actually faster than my local Jewel. My Jewel is understaffed with poorly trained or just unenthusiastic checkers that makes lines move incredibly slow.

However, I really don't get what people buy at TJ's. It seems like a lot of people's primary grocery store which is insane. Yes their selection of pumpkin flavored items is unparalleled, but when it comes to things to compose a meal their selection is limited, often overpriced and their produce quality is incredibly variable. If you are buying meat at TJ's it is very likely you are doing it wrong.

TJ's is great for sniping things. The nuts, the spices (if I don't want to get to an actual spice shop), fresh herbs (so expensive at Jewel), occasionally unique produce etc. But as a general purpose grocery store it is untenable unless you eat nothing but snacks and prepared meals.

..And the Unibroue Vintage Ale. I have cases of the 75cL bottles down in the beer cellar for both 2014 & 2015. It is an amazing beer, which will work for both beer trades, or for gifts to people who allegedly do not enjoy craft beer.
Read a Beer Advocate thread of the 2014 product.

goat gouda and goat brie, great quality and cheap price, especially the brie.