1967
Joe Coulombe opened the first Trader Joe's in Pasadena, California, in August 1967.
“So in August 1967, Joe opens the first Trader Joe's on Arroyo Parkway in Pasadena, California.”
Topic
Trader Joe's
13 facts from 1 episode, in date order. These are what speakers said on the shows, each linked to the moment it was said. They aren't independently verified.
1970
By 1970 Trader Joe's was the largest wine retailer in California and had launched its Wine Insiders Report newsletter.
“by 1970, the year they launched the Insiders Report, and three years after this first Trader Joe's launches on Arroyo Boulevard, Trader Joe's becomes the largest wine retailer in California.”
1970s
The speaker says Trader Joe's basically invented packaged almond butter, starting in its health food era.
“A great one that started during the health food era but then becomes so emblematic of this is Trader Joe's basically invented packaged almond butter.”
1976
The 1976 Judgment of Paris was a blind tasting in which Napa Valley wines beat top French wines, boosting California wine just as Trader Joe's was selling it.
“The 1976 Judgment of Paris, which is one of the most seminal events in the history of the wine industry.”
1979
In 1979 Joe Coulombe and the employee shareholders sold all of Trader Joe's equity to Theo Albrecht, owner of Aldi Nord.
“In 1979 Joe and all the other employee shareholders completely sold out 100% of the company's equity and they sold it to Theo Albrecht the owner of Aldi Nord”
1989
John Shields became Trader Joe's second CEO on January 1, 1989, succeeding Joe Coulombe.
“So on January 1st 1989 John takes over as CEO from Joe second CEO in Trader Joe's history”
2001
In 2001 California had a surplus of wine, which Bronco Wines bought cheaply and used for Charles Shaw wine sold at Trader Joe's from 2002.
“fast forward to 2001 there is a huge overproduction surplus of wine in California”
2009
Charles Shaw wine passed 400 million bottles sold by 2009 and 800 million three years later.
“2009 so seven years after the launch they passed 400 million bottles sold three years after that they passed 800 million bottles sold”
2023
Former CEO Dan Bain said that Trader Joe's had more than $20 billion in annual revenue when he retired in 2023, up from about $1 billion when he joined in the late 1990s.
“he says on this podcast that when he retired in 2023 they were doing north of 20 billion a year in revenue and they had just hit 1 billion when he joined the company in the late 90s”
2025
Trader Joe's sales per square foot are estimated at over $2,000, the highest of any grocery store and about twice Whole Foods.
“So the sales per square foot is estimated to be over $2,000 today That is the single highest sales per foot of any grocery store and twice its nearest competitor in Whole Foods”
2025
Trader Joe's operates 608 stores in 43 states with about 70,000 employees.
“in terms of geography where they are they're in 43 states they now have 608 stores they have 70,000 employees”
Undated
Before Dan Bain became CEO, Trader Joe's stores carried about 1,500 products, and he raised that to about 4,000.
“so before Dan took over Trader Joe's stores carried about 1500 SKUs wow that's really few really few he takes that up to about 4000”
Undated
Unlike retailers such as Costco, Walmart and Amazon that pay suppliers after 60 to 90 days, Trader Joe's pays suppliers on delivery.
“Trader Joe's does the opposite yes they pay up front and they pay on delivery”
Episodes