Comments on: Greenpeace ridicules “Traitor Joe’s”

By: Mik

Mik — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:20:40 +0000

I very much agree with Julie about TJ’s lack of transparency. I am a regular shopper and love many of their products, but I would definitely say they are not a company I really trust. For a company that is an obvious target for advocacy groups (based on the demographics they serve), they are NEVER ahead of the game and surrender to pressure issue by issue rather than being proactive in engaging stakeholders (we just learned that they don’t even respond to stakeholder surveys…) and developing a strategy that reflects a genuine commitment to sustainability. Ironically enough, they could look to Walmart’s example of how they have set public sustainability goals and proactively engaged NGOs to get themselves ahead of many campaigns. It is also interesting to note that TJs and Walmart essentially share a model for sourcing (find a good product, buy more of it than anyone else so you pay the supplier less, when it’s successful, make it a store brand and pay the supplier even less).

By: Julie

Julie — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:06:42 +0000

@Some Trader Joe’s Fan: TJ’s doesn’t respond to surveys, so we should give them the benefit of the doubt? When I was researching where they source their coffee, they wouldn’t respond to my emails or letters asking simple questions such how they come to their claim that some of their coffees are shade-grown, since they are not certified. The fact is that TJ’s (like Aldi’s, with whom they share background and corporate culture) is known for its secrecy and lack of transparency regarding who provides their private label brands.

By: Bored Tony

Bored Tony — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:31:41 +0000

“When we do offer seafood species on the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch “red” or “avoid” list, we undertake additional steps to fully understand the ways in which those items come to market to be sure they fit with our customers’ needs and concerns. We’re also evaluating alternatives to those red list species.”

The word “evaluate” is means nothing… Their statement in regards to Monterey Bay Aquarium, and reflective of the culture of the store as a whole is GREENWASHING — Now, my criticism of the Greenpeace campaign is that there are much bigger Greenwashers to go after and there are some quarrels between Greenpeace and Trader Joe’s that perhaps we don’t know about…

By: Some Trader Joe's Fan

Some Trader Joe's Fan — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 03:17:35 +0000

I’ve talked to people at Trader Joe’s about this, and here is the other side of the story…
Trader Joe’s does not respond to surveys of any kind, and did not return the survey about the seafood they sell to greenpeace. As a result, greenpeace is acting on information that is sketchy at best.
For example of the 15 fish on the “red list” that TJ’s allegedly sells, there are no less than 5 that I know for a fact they do not sell:
Trader Joe’s DOES NOT carry
Chilean Sea Bass
Ocean Quahog
RedfishMonkfish
Alaskan Pollock
In fact, according to TJ’s, they carry fewer greenpeace “red list” fish than the #1 rated store in the “study”
And finally from Horses mouth, this is straight off Trader Joe’s website:

1. A Note to Our Customers About Trader Joe’s Seafood
As we’ve often mentioned, we listen to our customers. Hearing recent feedback, our goal is to offer seafood options that fit customer needs ranging from food safety and taste, to concern over the environment.

This is not a new development for us. For example, we stopped selling Chilean Sea Bass in 2005 because of customer feedback.

To continue in our efforts to support this goal, we intend to use the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s science-based and research-backed “Seafood Watch” recommendations to help with our seafood purchasing decisions.

When we do offer seafood species on the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch “red” or “avoid” list, we undertake additional steps to fully understand the ways in which those items come to market to be sure they fit with our customers’ needs and concerns. We’re also evaluating alternatives to those red list species.

As with all the decisions we make about the products we offer, this is an ongoing process. We look forward to sharing our progress with our customers.

By: Nur Bernhardt

Nur Bernhardt — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:18:41 +0000

This is hilarious. Traitor Joe’s is a great idea. Social media really lets the idea grow. I wish Trader Joe’s was at the top of the list. I love their stores and who doesn’t love their frozen food aisle? Or the $2 Buck Chuck? Hopefully, they will get the message and clean up their act.

By: Vivian Greene

Vivian Greene — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:49:39 +0000

My name is Greene. And I approve this message!