It’s a lot more impressive if you think of it as a fun snack shop or a bougie gas station.
After a months-long investigation by the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, Trader Joe’s is finding itself in litigation for calling itself a grocery store. The report detailed numerous counts of false advertising within it’s Fearless Flyer newsletter, as well as within the store itself.
CBP Director Samuel Levine said, “A quick visit to any Trader Joe’s location in the country was enough to raise our suspicions. We strolled the aisles seeing nothing but seasonal novelty treats, felt garlands, and fancy little party drinks in glass bottles. Answer me this– can you feed a family of four for a week solely at Trader Joes? Or do you have to go to a real grocery store after you’re done shopping there? I know the jury is going to know exactly what I’m talking about.”
The CBP report said that if consumers are comparing the selection at Trader Joe’s to a gas station or a novelty snack shop, it’s a clear winner. But compared to a proper grocery store, one where you can buy a bag of potatoes or paper plates or anything containing high fructose corn syrup, it’s obviously a farce.
In a statement, Trader Joe’s said, “Our company is dedicated to providing our patrons with the finest grocery experience you can find. Whether it’s a bag of dill-flavored popcorn or an advent calendar for your cat, we have the staples our customers can depend on. And if that doesn’t make us a grocery store, maybe enough people aren’t making dark chocolate peanut butter cups the base of their food pyramid.”
