The Common History of Aldi and Trader Joe’s
Aldi and Trader Joe’s share a similar history. Both Aldi and Trader Joe’s have branches all over the USA. With a rich history from Germany, Albrecht Diskont, the full name of Aldi, was originally a family business in the early 1900s. After the World Wars, the brothers returned to run the local grocery store and expanded it to become the behemoth business it is today by two brothers; Karl and Theo Albrecht in the mid-1900s by selling pantry basics for extremely low prices.
However, the two sons had a dispute in 1960 and went into different paths with one staying to continue the family business and the other venturing out on his own over the sales of a particular item: cigarettes. The other brother who started his business is now associated with Trader Joe’s.
This split caused the business to divide into two separate business entities and the brothers shared the branches. Theo’s Aldi Nord got Northern Germany and a considerable amount of Europe such as France while Karl got Southern Germany and other parts of Europe such as Ireland and the UK, renaming his Aldi as Aldi Süd.
In 1976, Aldi Süd began operating in the USA and removed the Süd to become simply known as Aldi. Three years later, in 1979, Aldi Nord acquired Trader Joe’s, the name Joe derived from founder Joe Coulombe and so as not to confuse the shoppers with the other Aldi.
Aldi vs. Trader Joe’s
Both known for their affordable prices, Trader Joe’s is very popular with a good selection of products and a loyal following while Aldi whose motto is “The best quality at the lowest price” can be said to offer cheaper prices than its separate long-lost brother. Let us get into the battle: Aldi vs Trader Joe’s.
Let’s get into the battle of the grocery stores and see which comes out on top for you:CategoryAldiTrader Joe’sPricesA comparison of products shows Aldi to be slightly cheaper than Trader Joe’s, their motto and promise of cheap prices being kept. They also sell healthy foods at cheaper prices than some other grocery stores.Trader Joe’s sells certain items at a more expensive price than Aldi although it is also relatively cheap.ItemsAldi stocks some similar items as Trader Joe’s Trader Joe’s stocks some similar items as Aldi. Wide selection of itemsAldi has a wide variety of items although not as wide as Trader Joe’s.Trader Joe’s has a wider variety of items such as wines, beers, cheese, olive oil and fresh flowers. They also sell hard liquor. Shopping Basics All your grocery basics can be gotten at Aldi. Trader Joe’s seems more like a store than stores where extras people find fun. QualityAldi comes out on top with having a whopping 90% of store-label goods. Another thing shoppers love is Aldi’s exclusive and exciting food options. Trader Joe’s comes second, but only by a small difference with 80% of store-label goods. However, they do have fun and unique food categories shoppers can’t get enough of. LocationsAldi has more stores with over 2,000 stores in the US alone. Trader Joe’s has about 500 stores nationwide, mostly in the Western USA. Shopping ExperienceWant to be in and out as quickly as possible? Aldi provides you with a faster shopping experience so you are not overwhelmed with so many different choices. They also have fast cashiers. Trader Joe’s with its wider selection and multiple options provides a better shopping experience if you are up for that. They also offer specialty items. AtmosphereAldi has a clean and inviting minimal atmosphere, considered to be more serious than Trader Joe’s. Aldi also offers the shoppers a chance for solo shopping as their employees give their customers space to shop, only calling on them when necessary.Trader Joe’s offers a more playful vibe with themed display, friendly and very helpful staff, unique, and fun flyer descriptions and an ever-changing mix of products.Free SamplesAldi does not offer free samples.Free samples are offered.BagsAt Aldi’s, you can either bring your bag or buy a buy for 10 cents.If there is no bag tax then you can get a free bag. Shopping cartsFor a quarter, you can rent a shopping cart to incentivize shoppers to return their carts and get their coin back. No charges on shopping carts.
What makes each brand unique?
Trader Joe’s has excellent customer service, free food samples, good coffee, unique products, and specialty items.
Asides from having great products at lower prices, Aldi is known to offer specialty items, affordable and cheaper organic items like their ribeye steak, milk, snacks, and other organic produce
With all the points listed above, which comes out on top for you? Aldi or Trader Joe’s. The truth is both Aldi and Trader Joe’s are both great depending on your shopping preference, spending habits, and what you are looking for. Just make sure you choose the one that is best for you from the comparisons we have highlighted above.
Are Aldi and Trader Joe’s the same company?
No, they are not from the same parent company anymore nor are they the same company operating under different names in different countries even though they share a similar history.
Does Aldi own Trader Joe’s?
Technically yes, but not the Aldi you are thinking of that is quite popular in America, it is actually owned by Aldi Nord after the two brothers split up.
Are there two Aldi’s?
Yes, there are two separate Aldi entities known as Aldi Süd and Aldi Nord.
Can you get refunds in both Aldi and Trader Joe’s?
Yes, in both stores you can get a full refund if the product is not satisfactory. Trader joe’s lets you return opened products. However, Aldi does Double guarantee only on exclusive brand food items where not only can you return the product and your money will be returned but they will also replace the item.
Does Aldi have a test kitchen?
Yes, they do in their headquarters in Illinois to carry out taste tests. If the product doesn’t meet what they want, they improve the product with the supplier. In-house chefs also create recipes that are shared on the store’s website.
