The Unique Way Trader Joe's Stocks Its Shelves

Trader Joe's is a brand that has always done things its own way. For much of the brand's history, Trader Joe's has found what works best and stuck to it. For example, in 1972, its employees started rocking Hawaiian shirts and following the same nautical theme. As Insider points out, that theme still persists today, and so do the signature check-out bells and other design features it inspired. The company's founder Joe Coulombe had found something that he liked, worked for the brand and stuck to it.

Since then, it's become just one of the grocery store's features that help customers fall in love. Another quality is the store's constantly rotating stock of goodies. Some products might be similar to, or even inspired by what you find at other stores, but others are entirely unique offerings that customers need to always buy, via Insider. That passion is partly inspired by a love for the foods, but also because Trader Joe's customers never know how long their favorite item will stick around.

CNN reports that Trader Joe's is one of the few grocery companies on the market that will discontinue certain items, thanks to its unique business model.

Trader Joe's habit of discontinuing items is so well known that the company's employees recently pulled back the curtain on the practice in an episode of the Trader Joe's podcast, Inside Trader Joe's.

During the episode, the show's hosts go into detail about what it takes for a Trader Joe's product to make the cut. Yes, the simple answer of "slow sales" is the obvious answer. It doesn't benefit the company to have a product taking up space in its storage areas and shelves. Like many other things though, Trader Joe's has a unique approach to stocking its shelves that encourages item rotation.

Many retailers will work with Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) companies that will pay them to simply put their items on the shelf. This way, whether it sells a lot or not, your favorite bag of chips will still be there because retailers are still profiting. Trader Joe's works directly with retailers to stock its shelves with its own branded items instead. This is one of the ways that Trader Joe's can stay relatively affordable, and provide high-quality foods simultaneously.

CNN adds that supermarkets and online services like Walmart and Amazon can also thrive by having everything you want, instead of just your favorites. They offer about ten times the stock of Trader Joe's at any given time, so they make up for stagnant sales by having a high volume of products.

Because Trader Joe's doesn't earn the extra revenue from the CPG companies, it can't afford to stock its stores with products that aren't selling. So, what can you do if your favorite sauce, snack, or dessert gets discontinued?

Trader Joe's understands your plight, and so it offers a discontinued product feedback option on its website where you can request the return of a special item.

"We welcome you to share your thoughts about a product you miss. We make no guarantees, but we do take customer requests into account when we develop new products or revisit old favorites," reads the website.

You can also subscribe to Trader Joe's Fearless Flyer newsletter. This is the best place to hear about its incoming products before anyone else. This way you can find a new treat to fill that void in your stomach or be the first to know when an old favorite is making a comeback.