Why Trader Joe’s dashed dreams of grocery delivery: ‘Can’t match our outstanding shopping experience’

If you’ve ever hoped to one day get Trader Joe’s delivered right to your front door, you’re out of luck.

Despite the popularity of grocery delivery apps such as InstaCart and DoorDash, Trader Joe’s has remained firm in its stance not to deliver their groceries, per a recent ChowHound report.

The grocery store states on its website that they don’t offer delivery, curbside pickup or partner with third-party delivery apps “because they can’t match our outstanding in-store value and shopping experience.”

TJ’s wants to create a “rewarding shopping experience, full of discovery and welcome,” which requires in-person shopping.

“After considering the options, we’re still just big ‘ole fans of the neighborhood grocery store where we can say hello when you’re looking around wondering — ‘what’s for dinner?’”

Trader Joe’s sees having customers go into the store and experience it for themselves as part of its brand — without having the barrier of an app or website.

Part of this is due to the beloved snacks and ready-to-eat foods that are hyped on social media and can only be found at Trader Joe’s.

Fans of TJ’s are always wanting to try the newest product or the seasonal launches, and the store’s “try anything” policy encourages in-store shopping for that reason.

If you want to taste something before you commit to buying it, Trader Joe’s employees can open any ready-to-eat or drink items for you to sample.

Items such as salads, chips, pepper-coated salami, popcorn and ginger beer are all fair game — though raw meats and frozen items are exempt from the policy, since an employee can’t exactly go in the back and cook up a steak for a customer to try. Beer and wine are also exempt.

Trader Joe’s staff have previously said on their in-house Trader Joe’s podcast that their business model is to be a “real place, with real people, buying real products” in a May 2023 episode titled, “Why is Trader Joe’s a Bricks and Mortar Store?”

On the same podcast episode, the hosts mentioned the logistics of delivery services, explaining that there are costs from the disruptors, meaning that it would force product prices to be raised and “free shipping doesn’t really exist.”

They added that “the store is our brand.”

“I think what we mean by that is the store is the place obviously where the business happens, our business, and it really happens through three different things: Our customers, our crew, our products. It’s our products in a place peopled with our crew and our customers, those three things have to be equally present.”

Trader Joe’s FAQ also emphasized that there no authorized online sales of their products, and they are only sold in-store, “so if you see TJ’s products for sale online, you’ll know right away that you’re not buying from Trader Joe’s.”

However, Trader Joe’s wasn’t always so strict on being delivery-free — the company offered delivery at its locations in New York City until March 2019.

“When we originally introduced delivery, we had one store on 14th Street in Manhattan, options for outside delivery services were limited and ride-sharing meant hopping into a taxi with someone else. Today, there are seven Trader Joe’s stores across Manhattan, with more on the way, and services for transporting food and people abound,” Trader Joe’s said in a statement to Supermarket News at the time.

“What hasn’t changed is our focus on providing our customers with the best-quality products for great, everyday prices,” the company said. “Instead of passing along unsustainable cost increases to our customers, removing delivery will allow us to continue offering outstanding values and to make better use of valuable space in our stores.”