Trader Joes versus Whole Foods?!
Answers: Which one do you like better and why?
They may both be premium specialty markets but they are very very different.
It's like asking whether one likes Aldi or a regular supermarket like Kroger / Supervalu / Safeway / etc... better.
On comparable staple (mostly packaged) gourmet items Trader Joe's generally has house brands at half the price and all the quality of Whole Foods. On branded items at both stores TJ's generally has the lower price, often significantly lower. TJ's produce however is neither particularly fresh since they don't have appropriate refrigeration nor exceptional in value. In that regard the local supermarket is a better choice.
Whole Foods has hundreds / thousands of items TJ's does not even carry. WF has far more variety and carries whole sections / categories of products that TJ's does not even try to. For fresh items like produce, meat, and fresh prepared foods Whole Foods is the hands down choice. There is also the whole realm of health food items and supplements at Whole Foods that TJ's simply does not carry.
I shop both Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, but I also shop Sam's Club, Aldi, and my local supermarket spending a similar amount at each. I even shop the Korean and Chinese supermarkets when possible for their low priced, high quality, and extreme variety of produce and fish.
About the only item that I'd buy equally and interchangeably at TJ's or WF is cheese, but I also get cheese at other stores as well.
So which is better?
Which do like better your son or your daughter?
Trader Joe's, they're better than Whole Foods.
I like both equally - I view them as two separate stores and enjoy shopping and products from both.
Whole foods. Just knowing that everything is good there and I don't have to read every lable. I wish we had one where I live.
Whole Foods, they have sooo much more variety. Trader Joe's doesn't even have a deli.
trader's joes is the best. whole foods is ok but too expensive....i went to whole foods and found it to be very overprices and trader joes have better quality foods, fresher and the prices are reasonable....
I much prefer Trader Joes in there they have a better selection at a lower Price