Trader Joes vs. Whole Foods
Posted by SamanthaLeigh on May 02, 2010 · Member since May 2010 · 2 posts
which one is better in your opinion, and why?
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which one is better in your opinion, and why?
I'm not sure I understand the direction of your question.
TJ's has less selection, but what they do sell is less expensive than WFs. I live by TJs, Whole Foods, and independent health food stores and I find myself shopping at the independents and TJs. Once a year or so I'll have a reason to go to WFs. Incidentally, the independents hfs are generally less expensive than WFs, too, and have a larger vegan selection.
I'm in Canada, so Whole Foods, cause it's here too and Trader Joes is not. I prefer going to Choices, (a health food store chain in BC), over Whole Foods. I usually go to the little guys and support local hfs.
TJ's is our main store for several reasons. 1, it is 5 minute drive to TJ's and a 45 minute drive to WF. 2, TJ's has alot of our staple food cheaper. 3, i like the small store aptomophere better. The +'s to whole foods are that their selection is massive and they have a bulk section, their items are better labeled for those of us with allergies, you can pick up a variety of allergy friendly prepared foods, and they carry and label local foods/items which saves me trips to three different farm stands just for basics.
Once the closer whole foods opens up i will probably go there every other month unless there is a particular item i need. Its too easy to get carried away and have a $400 dollar grocery bill. Honestly the only reason we dont shop exclusivly at TJ's is that ours doesnt have an awesome fresh veggie section and (for the canrivors) the meat is too expensive. We also shop at costco since my mom has her own bussines so we tend to buy juices and bulk veg there when we go. Outside of those we do shop conventional market when the sales are really good or the above doesnt have what we need (like cauliflower).
Trader Joe's, because:
- cheaper
- has most veg*n staples
- generally awesome
- better benefits*
* i used to work there ^^
Hey Guys,
here's my vote for my favourite veggie stuff at Trader Joe's:
http://desinthecity.wordpress.com/2010/05/02/trader-joes-desi-treasures-2/
happy trader joe's shopping!
Avi
Whole Foods has a WAY better selection. TJ's is good for some things, but I can only get half of what I need there so Whole Foods comes in handy for those unique and sometimes hard-to-find pantry staples. Not to mention their selection of non-dairy milk/yogurt/icecream/whatever is unbelievable. Absolutely no comparison, other than price. Plus, TJ's has awful produce that uses an unnecessary amount of pre-packaging.
But look into independent health food stores. Most metropolitan areas have at least one really good one with an awesome selection and it's always good to support local businesses :)
true dat. some of the produce is good (lettuce, carrots, generally the refrigerated stuff, avocados, apples, bananas), some sucks (tomatos, other fruit).
I've found that I have to mix and match. I get my rice/soy milk, soy ice cream (neccesity,) Earth Balance,tofu, Tofurkey sausages, frozen fruits /veggies,Ezekial bread at TJ's....then I get my bulk bin stuff, and "specilty items," (like SO Delicious coconut yogurt, and Veganise) at a co-op/healthfood store, (like Whole Foods.) I also have started getting my fresh produce every couple of days from a co-op instead of trying to wait a week unitl we go grocery shopping again. This helps me to really up my fruit and veggie intake throughout the week. (And I'm not always super impressed w/ TJ's produce and its always packaged in lots of waste.) So yes I spend about $65-70 @ TJ's/week, $45-50.00 @ the co-op throughout the week.
...neither.
I don't have a Trader Joe's OR a Whole Foods anywhere near me :'(
...neither.
I don't have a Trader Joe's OR a Whole Foods anywhere near me :'(
I'm in the same boat here. The nearest TJ and WF are both in the same city and almost 3 hours away. I shop as much as possible at conventional groceries stores and buy some at my local HFS (EXPENSIVE!!) and order the rest online.
Local co-op, because it's only a little over an hour away, as opposed to 2.5 hours for TJ and WF. I also like being able to support local farmers and artisans.
Personally, I prefer TJ's. Both TJ and WF are about 3 hours away, but I visit every now & then for fun. The TJ I visit is better than the WF because it has WAY more vegan stuff (the WF is shockingly bad in that department!) and the staff is fun & happy. Plus, can't beat the prices! :)
Sniff, I've never been inside a TJ, but my aunt gave me a few vegan things she picked up there once and they were great. There's not even a WF in Holland, although they have them in the UK, so I'm hopeful that they will come here if we don't move back to the US.
My very fav. shop here in a locally run gluten free store. The owner's daughter got Celiac and there was no option, so he opened the store to give her and other Celiacs here more choices. After my local supermarket stopped stocking a UK flour that is gluten free, I mentioned it to him and he now stocks the whole range. He thanks me every time I go into his shop, because they are such big sellers. Great shop!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE whole foods, but ive never been to a tj's, so i can't really participate. but i can't imagine anything being better than whole foods. :D
I've only ever been to WF's, but not in a very long time. It's 1.5 hours away and I don't know if there is a TJ's anywhere around or not. I'll have to look into that and if there is I'll try it. We did have an independent HFS about 30 minutes from here, but it closed :'(. So for now, I did all my shopping in the local big chain store.
Right now I'm considering a trip to a WF for the sole reason of trying Go Max Go bars. That's a long drive for a candy bar though...
I know I can get them on VE, too, but I'm dragging my feet for some reason.
I would go to each for different things. Well, when I worked at a Whole Foods I got everything there with my sweet discount and that was awesome. It was so funny when they did this comparison shopping display comparing their 365 brand with TJ's equivalents... they were like look, we're cheaper! And I'm sure TJ's could have said the same thing for different items.
I would get my vegan specialty things like vegenaise and stuff at WF and thing like barara's shredded oats and soy ice cream at TJ's. I did other grocery shopping at Shaw's (the conventional supermarket) and the local co-op. I am sorry to everyone who doesn't have WF and TJ's nearby. I wish Boston would give you some of theirs.
hrm...I'm in Canada. We have Whole Foods but no TJs (at least nowhere in Ontario that I'm aware of).
I don't live very close to WF, but having been there, I would rather shop at the farmer's market, and the local health food store, bulk store and the regular grocery store. I don't mind going to more than one place to get all my food because once I stock up I don't have to shop for a while, except the farmer's market which I really like going to.
My reasons...the prices at WF are kind of outrageous. I don't care about having take out food to go, aside from the occasional larabar. I can get local organic produce at the market and actually meet and talk to folks who work on the farms, and ask whether the food they're selling came from their farm or not (depending on what's in season). I use the bulk barn for as much as I can, and they do offer some organic choices like cane sugar and quinoa in bulk. Once I'm out of debt now that I'm no longer a student, I'm going to try and get more organic dry goods like cereal, beans, etc. The regular grocery store is for things like soymilk (unless I want to pay a bit more at the hfs), tofu, pitas, nuts, etc.
Whole Foods has the right idea but it's geared to a group of people with a much higher income than myself.
Whole foods because there are several around my town and the closest TJs is clear across the state. I shop there for bulk, generic brand tofu, and whatever produce I can find on sale, and that keeps it cheap. The biggest one near me also has kombucha on tap.
(Sometimes I buy myself treats. Then it doesn't stay cheap. But it makes me happy.)
If there's a good locally-owned health food store near me I have yet to find it.
Whole Foods has the right idea but it's geared to a group of people with a much higher income than myself.
Agreed.
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