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CNET
11-06-2025
- Business
- CNET
Is It Really More Affordable to Shop at Trader Joe's? We Did The Math to Find Out
Trader Joe's has a devoted fan base that keeps coming back for more of its unique products, upbeat employees and low prices. But, we began to wonder if the grocery deals are as good as they are made out to be? Sometimes the savings seem too good to be true, so there must be a catch, right? As a food writer and deal seeker, I set out to find out. After comparing prices on a 48-item grocery list between Trader Joe's and a typical supermarket, the results spoke for themselves. Here's everything to know about comparing the prices at Trader Joe's to other successful chains. Trader Joe's vs. Stop & Shop Product TJ's Stop & Shop Baby spinach, 6oz $1.99 $3.99 Fresh herbs (variety), 1oz* $1.69 $2.29 Head of cauliflower, each $2.99 $3.49 Red bell pepper, each $1.29 $2.29 Banana, each $0.19 $0.41 Beefsteak tomato, each $1.29 $1.40 Hass avocado, each $1.49 $1.99 Italian extra virgin olive oil, 33.8oz* $5.99 $8.29 Honey O's, 13.5oz $2.29 $7.19 Organic unsweetened soy beverage, 32 oz $1.99 $4.19 Classic potato chips, 10oz* $2.49 $5.29 Tortilla chips, 10oz^ $2.49 $3.39 Roasted red pepper hummus, 10oz $3.49 $4.99 Shredded mild cheddar cheese, 12oz* $3.49 $3.19 Cream cheese, 8oz $1.69 $2.89 Sliced Muenster cheese, 12oz* $4.49 $3.79 Greek nonfat yogurt, 32oz $5.49 $5.79 Organic 2% milk, half gallon $3.79 $5.69 Half and half, 1 quart $2.69 $5.19 Unsweetened applesauce, 24oz $1.99 $3.19 Creamy salted peanut butter, 16oz $2.29 $2.59 Whole bean coffee, 14oz* $4.99 $8.39 Whole roasted and salted cashews, 16oz^ $7.99 $16.49 Organic low sodium chicken broth, 32oz $1.99 $3.19 Solid white albacore tuna in olive oil, 5oz $2.29 $2.59 Organic virgin coconut oil, 16oz* $4.99 $14.69 Garbanzo beans, 15oz $0.89 $1.19 Black beans, 15oz $0.89 $1.19 Whole grain Dijon mustard, 12.3oz* $1.99 $3.79 Grade A 100% maple syrup, 8oz $4.49 $9.69 Clover honey, 12oz $3.99 $6.29 Spaghetti, 16oz $0.99 $1.49 Unbleached all-purpose flour, 5lbs $2.99 $3.69 Frozen peas, 16oz $1.59 $3.49 Chopped frozen spinach, 16oz $1.49 $3.49 Frozen pepperoni pizza, 15oz^ $5.99 $7.89 Multigrain waffles, 11oz^ $2.49 $3.29 Large brown eggs, 1 dozen $3.29 $4.19 Frozen cheese tortellini, 10oz^ $2.49 $5.19 15% lean ground beef, 16oz $5.99 $5.49 Fresh Atlantic salmon, 16oz $9.99 $14.99 Ground turkey, 16oz $3.99 $5.49 All natural whole chicken, per pound $3.99 $3.99 Plain bagels, 6 count, 18oz $1.99 $4.39 English muffins, 6 count, 12oz $1.99 $1.99 Flour tortillas, 8 count, 15.5oz $2.99 $2.09 French vanilla ice cream, half gallon $6.49 $3.79 Fresh pizza dough, 16oz $1.49 $3.49 Total $150.32 $227.45 *indicates that Trader Joe's item was of a larger size ^Indicates that Stop & Shop item was of a larger size My haul from TJ's was about 33% cheaper than the same haul from Stop & Shop, exceeding even my expectations. For more price comparisons, check out how much you can save by shopping at Costco, if it's cheaper to buy meal kits than groceries and if shopping for groceries online is less expensive than in the store. Who supplies Trader Joe's products? First things first. In understanding the potential cost savings of shopping only at Trader Joe's, it's important to know where TJ's products come from, whether we're speaking of flour and butter or Unexpected Cheddar and Butter Chicken. Having previously brought you an analysis of store brand versus name brand products and finding massive potential savings in the grocery receipts, is it simply a matter of Trader Joe's only selling store brand items? That is: Trader Joe's more or less only sells products under its own brand name, with few exceptions. Trader Joe's is definitely cheaper than the average grocery store, but you might have to wait in a longer checkout line to take advantage of the prices. Shara Tibken/CNET Trader Joe's isn't actually a manufacturer unto itself, and unlike some store brands, which are just name brands in disguise, Trader Joe's relationship with its vendors is a unique point in understanding its pricing structure. Turns out there's actually merit to the "trader" element of Trader Joe's, which, according to its website, deals directly with manufacturers and growers, and cuts out the brokers and distributors, contributing to its lower-seeming prices. Which exact vendors make those Trader Joe's items with cult-like followings is a closely guarded secret. Trader Joe's vs. Stop & Shop Stop & Shop is a regional chain in the northeastern US whose sibling companies include Hannaford, Giant and Food Lion. I chose Stop & Shop to represent an average grocery chain in my available area whose reputation is good and whose prices are known for being reasonable but which doesn't have the cult following of Trader Joe's, or even certain other conventional retailers such as Wegmans. Stop & Shop does have its own store brand, which is simply called SB, which stands for "store brand." (No points for originality there, Stop & Shop.) It also has an organic store brand line called Nature's Promise. Both the SB and Nature's Promise brands offer a variety of products in every department. Your local Stop & Shop may have self-driving delivery pods but it also has significantly higher grocery prices than Trader Joe's. Stop & Shop How I evaluated Trader Joe's and Stop & Shop for staples Using grocery shopping templates available online, I generated a list of 48 basic grocery items representing a range of price points from nearly all food and drink departments in October 2022. For each item, I compared the Trader Joe's price, sourced from an in-store visit in Queens, New York, to the Stop & Shop price, sourced from Instacart. (For Stop & Shop items that are typically sold by weight, Instacart offers an estimated price per piece.) I tried to find equivalencies in terms of the sizes of each product but noted where one store or the other was offering a larger size. I didn't scale the prices accordingly, however, because I wanted the end totals to reflect the actual prices you'd find on your grocery receipts. To make it as fair a fight as possible, and because Trader Joe's entire fleet of products qualifies as store-brand, wherever possible I used the equivalent Stop & Shop SB or Nature's Promise product as a point of comparison. Trader Joe's beloved pepita salsa is just one example of a store brand item that's gained fandom and loyalty all its own. Trader Joe's Trader Joe's savings are still huge At the end of the nearly 50-item list of basic staples, comparing what was effectively store brand to store brand, Trader Joe's clearly came out as the winner, totaling only $150.32 to Stop & Shop's $227.45, for a total of about 33% savings on the entirety of the list. If you're someone who doesn't typically purchase store brand items when shopping at conventional grocery stores, it is safe to assume that the potential savings would be even greater, easily approaching a 50% discount compared with similar brand name products. Where are the biggest savings on Trader Joe's items? Almost all of Trader Joe's biggest money savers come from the pantry department, with cereal, soy milk, coffee, maple syrup, coconut oil and nuts amounting to more than 50% off of the Stop & Shop price. Coffee and coconut oil, in particular, have such untouchable prices, one wonders whether TJ's has brokered a deal with the devil himself. It is worth noting that deli cheeses seemed to be the one category where Stop & Shop came close to TJ's. Stop & Shop's prices for both shredded cheddar cheese and sliced Muenster cheese were actually lower than the same TJ's products. In both cases the sizes offered by Stop & Shop were smaller, however, giving TJ's an advantage in terms of value, but it stands to reason that for items with shorter shelf lives, such as cheese, the smaller package might be a more advantageous purchase anyway. Cheese and produce are two departments where Trader Joe's may not always have a clear price advantage. Getty Images Additionally, the produce department at Trader Joe's is almost entirely sold by package or by item (as opposed to by weight), with prices that rarely fluctuate, meaning that there might be better produce deals to be found at conventional retailers for fruits and vegetables that are priced by weight rather than the piece, and based on seasonality. (When spotted, I will always buy a 99 cent avocado at any retailer.) I would also note that weekly sales specials, which were not necessarily factored in here, can also offer a conventional retailer a price advantage over Trader Joe's on certain items from week to week. Despite these possibilities for occasional better savings in some departments, however, the math is clear: Trader Joe's has some of the best overall prices, even where basic groceries are concerned. This story was originally published in October 2022. FAQs What grocery store did we use as the point of comparison with Trader Joe's? We used Stop & Shop prices as the direct comparison to Trader Joe's. The difference between prices for Stop & Shop items and Trader Joe's items is how we generated the results used in this article. Your mileage may vary when comparing Trader Joe's prices to other grocery stores. Why are Trader Joe's items so cheap? Trader Joe's has a unique relationship with manufacturers, allowing them to cut out the middleman in the supply chain -- TJ's is then able to pass some of those savings on to you, the consumer, as they sell their products at a lower overall price.
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
National Hamburger Day 2025 serves up deals across US
National Hamburger Day falls on Wednesday, May 28, offering burger lovers across the country a perfect excuse to enjoy deals and freebies on one of America's favorite foods. Americans consume about 50 billion burgers annually, and data from Circana shows that the average person eats 26 burgers per year from restaurants and other food outlets, based on research from the 12 months ending March 2025. If all this burger talk has your stomach rumbling, you're in luck. Restaurants across the country are marking the occasion with promotions and giveaways, many of which also tie into National Hamburger Month. Burger King Burger King has been celebrating throughout May with exclusive deals for its Royal Perks loyalty members. Customers could buy one Whopper and get one free on May 26. On May 27, a free Original Chicken Sandwich was offered with any $1+ purchase. The main event comes on May 28, when customers can receive a free hamburger with a purchase of at least $1. Royal Perks members can also redeem a hamburger for just 125 crowns – half the usual redemption rate – until the end of the month. These deals must be activated in the 'Offers' section of the Burger King app or website prior to ordering. Wendy's Wendy's is offering its own promotion from May 28 through June 1, giving customers a Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger for just one cent with any purchase made through the Wendy's app. The fast-food chain is also running its 100 Days of Savings campaign, featuring rotating app-exclusive discounts. Starting June 7, customers can grab a $1 Dave's Single with any order placed on Saturdays, an offer that runs through July 26. Offers must be redeemed via an account in the app or on the website. Grubhub Grubhub is extending its Gold Days of Grubhub+ campaign with Memorial Day Munchies promotions from May 26 to June 1. Participating restaurants include Arby's, which is offering 20% off orders of $25 or more (up to $7 off), and Sonic Drive-In, offering 25% off orders of $20 or more (up to $6 off). The promotion continues through June 8, with new deals from Shake Shack, Taco Bell, and Starbucks launching June 2. Full details are available on Grubhub's website. Grubhub+ members get added perks such as waived delivery fees and reduced service charges. The subscription costs $9.99 per month after a free trial, but Amazon Prime members receive it for free and can also use the code GOLD10 for $10 off a $20+ order. More National Hamburger Day deals - Buffalo Wild Wings Enjoy 50% off any burger on May 28—including favorites like the All-American Cheeseburger and Triple Bacon Cheeseburger—when you order takeout or delivery from Buffalo Wild Wings GO. Just use promo code GOBURGER at checkout. (Offer not valid for dine-in orders.) Dairy Queen Friendly's Join Friendly's new Fan Club loyalty program and enjoy a free Founder's Burger when you sign up by May 31! Simply download the app, join the club, and your reward will be waiting—just make sure to redeem it within 30 days. Starting June 1, new members will receive a free medium sundae instead. Kroger Shake Shack Enjoy a free ShackBurger with any purchase of $10 or more now through June 1! Just use code BURGERMONTH when you order via the Shack app, online, or at in-Shack kiosks. Smashburger Sonic Drive-In On Tuesday, May 27, enjoy half-price Cheeseburgers when you order through the Sonic app after 5 p.m. Plus, from 5 p.m. onward through the end of the month, you can also treat yourself to half-price shakes—exclusively in the app. Whataburger
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Grubhub launches new food and shopping deals
By Published: | Updated: Grubhub has a bunch of food and shopping deals — as it fights back against delivery giants DoorDash and Uber Eats. The delivery app just kicked off its latest Gold Days of Grubhub+ , with four weeks of promos and perks for members. Fast food fans have missed week one, which brought savings at big-name chains like Popeyes, Chili's, Firehouse Subs and Little Caesars. But over the next three weeks, expect fresh deals from Wendy's, Burger King, Arby's, Dunkin', Sonic, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC — all running through June 8. Grubhub+ costs $9.99 a month or is free with Amazon Prime. For non-members, the company is offering a limited-time $30 annual membership — a 66 percent discount. On top of the deals, members already get $0 Priority Delivery fees, lower service fees, 5 percent back on pickup orders, and year-round exclusive deals. Amazon Prime members get one more perk. They can use the code 'GOLD10' to score $10 off a $20 order. Here's what's still on the table for weeks two, three and four.... Dubbed 'Midweek Mood Boosters,' Grubhub kicked off its second week of golden days on Monday. Members looking for something sweet can earn a free medium Frosty Fusion for an order that's $20 or more. Burger King fans can also take advantage of a buy one, get one (BOGO) deal on double cheeseburgers for orders starting at $15. The final restaurant chain featured in this week's deals is Sweetgreen, which includes a $5 discount on orders for $25 or more. Albertson's, PetSmart, and 7-Eleven deals are all included in the celebration this week only. Albertsons customers can take 40 percent off $40 or more orders, while animal owners can save 30 percent on purchases starting at $40. Grubhub+ members needing items from 7-Eleven can save 30 percent on orders that cost $25 or more. The week of 'Memorial Day Munchies' features offers from five chains that will go from May 26 to June 1. Customers can score a BOGO deal wings (up to $15) on orders starting at $20 from Buffalo Wild Wings . Grubhub members will also be able to save 20 percent on total purchases that cost $25 or more from Arby's. Dunkin' and Sonic Drive-In fans can go nuts that week for 25 percent discounts on orders starting at $20. Members who aren't foodies can enjoy a 30 percent discount on their shopping cart with goods totaling $35 or more. Grubhub is ending its golden days with a 'Feasting with Friends' week from June 2 to June 8. Members can snag a free 10-piece Nuggets on orders starting at $20 from Taco Bell that week. Customers will also be able to earn a free SmokeShack from Shake Shake by making a purchase of $25 or more.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Fast food giants duke it out with 'deal war' on popular delivery service
Grubhub has a bunch of food and shopping deals — as it fights back against delivery giants DoorDash and Uber Eats. The delivery app just kicked off its latest Gold Days of Grubhub+, with four weeks of promos and perks for members. Fast food fans have missed week one, which brought savings at big-name chains like Popeyes, Chili's, Firehouse Subs and Little Caesars But over the next three weeks, expect fresh deals from Wendy's, Burger King, Arby's, Dunkin', Sonic, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC — all running through June 8. Grubhub+ costs $9.99 a month or is free with Amazon Prime. For non-members, the company is offering a limited-time $30 annual membership — a 66 percent discount. On top of the deals, members already get $0 Priority Delivery fees, lower service fees, 5 percent back on pickup orders, and year-round exclusive deals. Amazon Prime members get one more perk. They can use the code 'GOLD10' to score $10 off a $20 order. Here's what's still on the table for weeks two, three and four.... Grubhub launched its Gold Days of Grubhub+ event on May 12, which will last until June 8. Week one is over but there are still three more weeks of offers Dubbed 'Midweek Mood Boosters,' Grubhub kicked off its second week of golden days on Monday. Members looking for something sweet can earn a free medium Frosty Fusion for an order that's $20 or more. Burger King fans can also take advantage of a buy one, get one (BOGO) deal on double cheeseburgers for orders starting at $15. The final restaurant chain featured in this week's deals is Sweetgreen, which includes a $5 discount on orders for $25 or more. Albertson's, PetSmart, and 7-Eleven deals are all included in the celebration this week only. Albertsons customers can take 40 percent off $40 or more orders, while animal owners can save 30 percent on purchases starting at $40. Grubhub+ members needing items from 7-Eleven can save 30 percent on orders that cost $25 or more. The week of 'Memorial Day Munchies' features offers from five chains that will go from May 26 to June 1. Customers can score a BOGO deal wings (up to $15) on orders starting at $20 from Buffalo Wild Wings. Grubhub members will also be able to save 20 percent on total purchases that cost $25 or more from Arby's. Dunkin' and Sonic Drive-In fans can go nuts that week for 25 percent discounts on orders starting at $20. Members who aren't foodies can enjoy a 30 percent discount on their shopping cart with goods totaling $35 or more. Grubhub is ending its golden days with a 'Feasting with Friends' week from June 2 to June 8. Members can snag a free 10-piece Nuggets on orders starting at $20 from Taco Bell that week. Customers will also be able to earn a free SmokeShack from Shake Shake by making a purchase of $25 or more. Grubhub+ users hoping to feat on pizza can make a $30 or more Pizza Hut purchase and receive a 20 percent discount. Starbucks and KFC will close out the celebration with $10 off $20 or more and $7 off $25 or more orders.
