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<h2 class="post-title"><span class="title-text">13 Things That Prove Trader Joe&#8217;s Is the Greatest Grocery Store of All Time</span></h2>
<div class="post-meta"><time datetime="2018-01-15T15:15:12-08:00">January 15, 2018 </time><span class="byline standard"><span class="by">by </span><a href="https://www.popsugar.com/author/Erin-Cullum" rel="author">ERIN CULLUM</a></span></div>
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<div class="share-container"><img class="image xxxlarge no-hover-share" title="13 Things That Prove Trader Joe's Is the Greatest Grocery Store of All Time" src="https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/Oww09Xu1yfVufmaHKRrOhoOztiI/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:format_auto-!!-:strip_icc-!!-/2016/09/28/028/n/1922195/1385498d_ac07b766_27248942893_93921aefee_o_1_/i/Why-Trader-Joe-Best-Grocery-Store.jpg" alt="13 Things That Prove Trader Joe's Is the Greatest Grocery Store of All Time" width="1024" height="504" /></p>
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<div class="source">Image Source: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeepersmedia/27248942893/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Flickr user Mike Mozart</a></div><figcaption class="highlightable">I feel grateful to live within a 10-minute walk of a Trader Joe&#8217;s, because it&#8217;s truly the greatest grocery store of all time. I know I can always find exactly what I&#8217;m looking for in addition to <a href="https://www.popsugar.com/food/Best-New-Trader-Joe-Products-2017-43164206">new Trader Joe&#8217;s products</a> I never knew I needed — all at an affordable price. These 13 reasons prove why Trader Joe&#8217;s is the best grocery store, and every loyal customer is sure to agree.</p>
<div class="related-stories"><span class="count-container"><span class="count">1</span></span><span class="count-copy">The Everyday Seasoning is a godsend.</span></div>
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<div class="image-wrapper gallery-stream no-hover-share"><img class="image xxxlarge" title="The Everyday Seasoning is a godsend." src="https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/xR0iEvrxObISH9pcSsek1UXaKOg/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:format_auto-!!-:strip_icc-!!-/2016/09/28/943/n/1922195/478ce20a54e7016e_Everyday-Seasoning-2/i/Everyday-Seasoning-godsend.jpg" alt="The Everyday Seasoning is a godsend." width="683" height="1024" /></div>
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<div class="source">Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Erin Cullum</div>
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<p><a href="https://www.popsugar.com/food/Trader-Joe-Everyday-Seasoning-41459945">Trader Joe&#8217;s Everyday Seasoning</a> ($2) is one of the best pantry staples known to man. The spice blend of sea salt, mustard seeds, black peppercorns, coriander, onion, garlic, paprika, and chili pepper comes in a handy grinder, and as its name implies, it seasons everything (meat, veggies, you name it).</p>
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<figure id="photo-42475477" class="slide gallery-image  layout-portrait"><figcaption><span class="count-container"><span class="count">2</span></span><span class="count-copy">The white cheddar popcorn can&#8217;t be beat.</span></figcaption><div class="image-container">
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<div class="image-wrapper gallery-stream no-hover-share"><img class="image xxxlarge" title="The white cheddar popcorn can't be beat." src="https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/ntBAqv65txarYWFLbiFBmJYXupM/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:format_auto-!!-:strip_icc-!!-/2016/09/28/944/n/1922195/16f53bc2a84603ea_54b8a52014126088_White-Cheddar-Popcorn-2/i/white-cheddar-popcorn-cant-beat.jpg" alt="The white cheddar popcorn can't be beat." width="681" height="1024" /></div>
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<div class="source">Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Anna Monette Roberts</div>
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<p>Try to find a better store-bought white cheddar popcorn, and you will fail.</p>
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<figure id="photo-42475540" class="slide gallery-image  layout-portrait"><figcaption><span class="count-container"><span class="count">3</span></span><span class="count-copy">You can return anything!</span></figcaption><div class="image-container">
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<div class="image-wrapper gallery-stream no-hover-share"><img class="image xxxlarge" title="You can return anything!" src="https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/N9YetqmYX3Qvz_tfrbzyefVc11o/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:format_auto-!!-:strip_icc-!!-/2016/09/28/946/n/1922195/31000c8b31ae08da_3051f016_edit_img_tall_fashion_image_file_37467143_1446224400_TJ_s-Staples-TALL/i/You-can-return-anything.jpg" alt="You can return anything!" width="614" height="1024" /></div>
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<div class="source">Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Anna Monette Roberts</div>
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<p>Promise. <a href="https://www.popsugar.com/food/Trader-Joe-Return-Policy-40812355">Trader Joe&#8217;s return policy</a> is as good as it gets.</p>
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<figure id="photo-42475503" class="slide gallery-image  layout-landscape"><figcaption><span class="count-container"><span class="count">4</span></span><span class="count-copy">The chicken apple sausage has a cult following — for good reason.</span></figcaption><div class="image-container">
<div class="image-wrapper no-hover-share embed gallery-stream no-pin"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGRxaJtpJKS/embed/?cr=1&#038;v=7&#038;wp=658#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A1501.9950000000001%7D">https://www.instagram.com/p/BGRxaJtpJKS/embed/?cr=1&#038;v=7&#038;wp=658#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A1501.9950000000001%7D</a></div>
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<p>The chicken apple sausage from Trader Joe&#8217;s has established a fandom-like following because it&#8217;s <em>that</em> good. People eat it for breakfast, chop it up in pasta, sauté it with veggies, and more.</p>
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<figure id="photo-42475593" class="slide gallery-image  layout-portrait"><figcaption><span class="count-container"><span class="count">5</span></span><span class="count-copy">The affordable prices are the best for budget-friendly shopping.</span></figcaption><div class="image-container">
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<div class="image-wrapper gallery-stream no-hover-share"><img class="image xxxlarge" title="The affordable prices are the best for budget-friendly shopping." src="https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/M39aBxFy0NUBz9QxqZR6pQujpyo/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:format_auto-!!-:strip_icc-!!-/2016/09/28/950/n/1922195/f57c133a5aaae0ea_IMG_1063/i/affordable-prices-best-budget-friendly-shopping.jpg" alt="The affordable prices are the best for budget-friendly shopping." width="768" height="1024" /></div>
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<div class="source">Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Jae Payne</div>
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<p>Because <a href="https://www.popsugar.com/food/photo-gallery/39905732/image/39908523/80-percent-Trader-Joe-products-company-own-80">80 percent of Trader Joe&#8217;s products are its own</a>, the company cuts down costs that many manufacturers charge.</p>
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<figure id="photo-42476027" class="slide gallery-image  layout-landscape"><figcaption><span class="count-container"><span class="count">6</span></span><span class="count-copy">The customer service never disappoints.</span></figcaption><div class="image-container">
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<div class="image-wrapper gallery-stream no-hover-share"><img class="image xxxlarge" title="The customer service never disappoints." src="https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/5mwSY91SrvV9lodaE-SLfsXmRIk/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:format_auto-!!-:strip_icc-!!-/2016/09/28/966/n/1922195/802b8f8a58ee6877_19822280031_b2a92874a1_o/i/customer-service-never-disappoints.jpg" alt="The customer service never disappoints." width="1024" height="576" /></div>
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<div class="source">Image Source: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/z0/19822280031/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Flickr user Aranami</a></div>
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<p>No other grocery store has friendly, Hawaiian-shirt-wearing employees all over the store waiting to help you out with any question. It&#8217;s Trader Joe&#8217;s policy for employees to walk you to an item if you can&#8217;t find it, check in the back if it&#8217;s not there, and even try every new item so they know how to describe it to customers.</p>
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<figure id="photo-42475587" class="slide gallery-image  layout-portrait"><figcaption><span class="count-container"><span class="count">7</span></span><span class="count-copy">The Sea Salt and Turbinado Sugar Dark Chocolate Almonds are unbeatable.</span></figcaption><div class="image-container">
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<div class="image-wrapper gallery-stream no-hover-share"><img class="image xxxlarge" title="The Sea Salt and Turbinado Sugar Dark Chocolate Almonds are unbeatable." src="https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/nA-XDY1K4Feu4Kt0VYpaSsc0Kv4/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:format_auto-!!-:strip_icc-!!-/2016/09/28/949/n/1922195/db1039cd2e3321a9_Sea-Salt-Turbinado-Sugar-Dark-Chocolate-Almonds-4/i/Sea-Salt-Turbinado-Sugar-Dark-Chocolate-Almonds-unbeatable.jpg" alt="The Sea Salt and Turbinado Sugar Dark Chocolate Almonds are unbeatable." width="820" height="1024" /></div>
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<div class="source">Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Anna Monette Roberts</div>
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<p>Best. Chocolate-covered almonds. Ever.</p>
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<figure id="photo-42476309" class="slide gallery-image  layout-landscape"><figcaption><span class="count-container"><span class="count">8</span></span><span class="count-copy">Speaking of chocolate, Trader Joe&#8217;s has a wall of chocolate-covered everything.</span></figcaption><div class="image-container">
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<div class="image-wrapper gallery-stream no-hover-share"><img class="image xxxlarge" title="Speaking of chocolate, Trader Joe's has a wall of chocolate-covered everything." src="https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/f-1gDGTgBT9rGdmVaPmmchvZL7U/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:format_auto-!!-:strip_icc-!!-/2016/09/28/987/n/1922195/6f53801eebe89694_Dark-Chocolate-Covered-Pomegranate-Seeds-4/i/Speaking-chocolate-Trader-Joe-has-wall-chocolate-covered-everything.jpg" alt="Speaking of chocolate, Trader Joe's has a wall of chocolate-covered everything." width="1024" height="768" /></div>
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<div class="source">Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Anna Monette Roberts</div>
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<p>The <a href="https://www.popsugar.com/food/Best-Chocolate-Covered-Items-From-Trader-Joe-40113206">Trader Joe&#8217;s wall of chocolate items</a> is a chocolate-lover&#8217;s paradise. It has everything from pomegranate seeds to orange peels, and it&#8217;s where some of the toughest decision-making takes place.</p>
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<figure id="photo-42476130" class="slide gallery-image  layout-square"><figcaption><span class="count-container"><span class="count">9</span></span><span class="count-copy">The coffee station is a morning savior.</span></figcaption><div class="image-container">
<div class="image-wrapper no-hover-share embed gallery-stream no-pin"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/qmElKHtQ2l/embed/?cr=1&#038;v=7&#038;wp=658#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A1527.0000000000002%7D">https://www.instagram.com/p/qmElKHtQ2l/embed/?cr=1&#038;v=7&#038;wp=658#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A1527.0000000000002%7D</a></div>
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<p>You can grab a mini cup — or use your own if no one&#8217;s looking — and fill it up with fresh coffee any time of day.</p>
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<figure id="photo-42476131" class="slide gallery-image  layout-square"><figcaption><span class="count-container"><span class="count">10</span></span><span class="count-copy">There&#8217;s a coffee grinder, too.</span></figcaption><div class="image-container">
<div class="image-wrapper no-hover-share embed gallery-stream no-pin"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/1dndbzLLnU/embed/?cr=1&#038;v=7&#038;wp=658#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A1532.9950000000001%7D">https://www.instagram.com/p/1dndbzLLnU/embed/?cr=1&#038;v=7&#038;wp=658#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A1532.9950000000001%7D</a></div>
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<p>You can buy whole-bean coffee without worrying about how to grind it.</p>
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<figure id="photo-42476104" class="slide gallery-image  layout-landscape"><figcaption><span class="count-container"><span class="count">11</span></span><span class="count-copy">The inviting decor makes grocery shopping more fun.</span></figcaption><div class="image-container">
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<div class="image-wrapper gallery-stream no-hover-share"><img class="image xxxlarge" title="The inviting decor makes grocery shopping more fun." src="https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/9Hsx5CDNsPvCvHQJZ8aoJf_IyuQ/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:format_auto-!!-:strip_icc-!!-/2016/09/28/969/n/1922195/8bafc6361bab7cba_19194831424_7f81858a2d_o_1_/i/inviting-decor-makes-grocery-shopping-more-fun.jpg" alt="The inviting decor makes grocery shopping more fun." width="1024" height="576" /></div>
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<div class="source">Image Source: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/z0/19194831424/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Flickr user Aranami</a></div>
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<p>Grocery shopping can be a tedious task, but Trader Joe&#8217;s unique interior makes it a much happier experience. One <a href="https://www.popsugar.com/food/Trader-Joe-Secrets-Revealed-40729360">surprising secret of Trader Joe&#8217;s</a> is that every location has an in-house artist, so the art is personalized for each city.</p>
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<figure id="photo-42476145" class="slide gallery-image  layout-square"><figcaption><span class="count-container"><span class="count">12</span></span><span class="count-copy">The free samples are always on-point.</span></figcaption><div class="image-container">
<div class="image-wrapper no-hover-share embed gallery-stream no-pin"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Baj2I5eFz87/embed/?cr=1&#038;v=8&#038;wp=658#%7B%22ci%22%3A3%2C%22os%22%3A4504%7D">https://www.instagram.com/p/Baj2I5eFz87/embed/?cr=1&#038;v=8&#038;wp=658#%7B%22ci%22%3A3%2C%22os%22%3A4504%7D</a></div>
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<p>Several grocery stores offer free samples, but you can count on TJ&#8217;s to have the sample station up and running all day long with interesting items you might not have noticed while shopping.</p>
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<figure id="photo-42476619" class="slide gallery-image  layout-portrait"><figcaption><span class="count-container"><span class="count">13</span></span><span class="count-copy">Trader Joe&#8217;s constantly carries new items you can&#8217;t find anywhere else.</span></figcaption><div class="image-container">
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<div class="image-wrapper gallery-stream no-hover-share"><img class="image xxxlarge" title="Trader Joe's constantly carries new items you can't find anywhere else." src="https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/3NSwgqvHRuTxOPNHljDyXzZgrDA/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:format_auto-!!-:strip_icc-!!-/2016/09/28/013/n/1922195/7b2d2c90e2e98740_Pick-Up-Coffee-Mochi-3_1_/i/Trader-Joe-constantly-carries-new-items-you-cant-find-anywhere-else.jpg" alt="Trader Joe's constantly carries new items you can't find anywhere else." width="683" height="1024" /></div>
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<div class="source">Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Erin Cullum</div>
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<p>You could fill an entire cart with <a href="https://www.popsugar.com/food/Best-New-Trader-Joe-Products-2017-43164206">new Trader Joe&#8217;s items</a> every month, because the company is always adding unique products to store shelves. Shopping there encourages you to step out of your comfort zone and try unexpected things like <a href="https://www.popsugar.com/food/photo-gallery/42396266/image/42398035/Pick-Up-Coffee-Mochi-3">coffee mochi ice cream</a> and <a href="https://www.popsugar.com/food/photo-gallery/41692793/image/41933136/Sambal-Matah-Indonesian-Salsa-3">Indonesian salsa</a>.</p>
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