For years, Trader Joe’s has been the go-to grocery spot for budgeters with good taste, and while they’ve seemed fairly unimpeachable, they’ve been courting controversy for a minute. In a recent edition of our newsletter Shelf Life, Chloe Gordon went into how Trader Joe’s has been in hot water for allegedly ripping off smaller companies; she didn’t even mention how they’ve attracted criticism for anti-union policy draconian enough to expand beyond their store.
It’s hard to know for sure what’s behind the recent inspiration for huge retail companies like Amazon and now Walmart to create shiny, upscale yet affordable in-house brands, but there could be a sense of competition in the air. Maybe these brands are sensing an opportunity to seize some of the momentum Trader Joe’s is losing?
