These Are The Big Brands Behind Your Favorite Trader Joe’s Products
1 Trader Joe’s Pistachios = Wonderful Pistachios
Buying nuts anywhere will always cost you a pretty penny. But at Trader Joe’s, you can at least be sure that the pistachios you’re adding to your shopping cart are of good quality. Trader Joe’s offers a 16-ounce bag of dry roasted and unsalted pistachios. But little do most customers know, these pistachios are the same as those from The Wonderful Company.
However, the fact that the pistachios are from The Wonderful Company doesn’t necessarily make them a good deal. In fact, Trader Joe’s pistachios might be a little more expensive than the name-brand versions you can find at other stores. If pistachios are a must-have in your home, you might want to get them somewhere else and leave the Trader Joe’s version on the shelf.
2 Trader Joe’s Sausages = Kayem Artisan Sausage
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of biting into a Trader Joe’s brand sausage, then you know they’re top-of-line products. Available for a reasonable price, Trader Joe’s offers delicious sausages in a variety of flavors. But just how do they guarantee that their sausages are so good? Apparently, the sausages are sourced from Kayem Foods.
Kayem has been around since the early 1900s, though it originally started as a small butcher shop selling handmade sausages. Now, Kayem is a huge brand encompassing sausages, deli meats, and even sandwich bread. When Kayem products were recalled in 2015, a few Trader Joe’s sausages were removed from the shelves, including the Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage. This confirmed that Trader Joe’s sausages are just Kayem products in disguise.
3 Trader Joe’s Organic Super Sweet Cut Corn = ConAgra Sweet Corn
ConAgra is a huge foods manufacturer. While you may not have heard of this brand specifically, you’ve certainly heard of some of their products. ConAgra is the umbrella company of popular brands like Hunt’s and Marie Callender’s. When ConAgra sweet corn was recalled in 2016, Trader Joe’s Super Sweet Corn was also taken off the shelves.
For this product, however, there may not be much of a difference in buying the name brand version from the store or the Trader Joe’s option. The prices are nearly identical and only vary slightly based on location. If you’re craving some sweet corn, feel free to buy yours at whatever grocery store is most convenient.
4 Trader Joe’s Baby Cauliflower = Mann’s Baby Cauliflower
The baby cauliflower you know and love isn’t actually baby cauliflower at all. Well, it is, but it’s formally referred to as Caulini, the official name of Mann’s baby cauliflower. Mann’s, who trademarked the name Caulini, is the source of the Trader Joe’s version of the bagged vegetable.
In 2019, a recall for Mann’s veggies took Trader Joe’s baby cauliflower off the shelves, confirming the link between the two products. While Mann’s is one of the largest producers of vegetables in the country, it’s still more cost effective to buy this product from Trader Joe’s. While Mann’s Caulini retails for $3.99 year-round, the Trader Joe’s version costs as little as $2.99 for the exact same product.
5 Trader Joe’s Tahini Sauce = Yorgo’s Foods
In case you haven’t noticed, recalls are a big way to determine the origins of Trader Joe’s products. In 2017, another big recall established a link between Trader Joe’s tahini sauce dip and Yorgo Foods. When dozens of Yorgo’s products faced a listeria-related recall, Trader Joe’s tahini sauce was removed from the shelves.
While a similar dip from Yorgo Foods may be found in some stores, it’s actually more reliable to get the Trader Joe’s version. Not only is it a staple in the store, but it’s also offered at a fair price. If you crave this dip, don’t go looking for a better deal—go ahead and buy the Trader Joe’s version.
6 Trader Joe’s Ready-To-Eat Sushi = Fuji Food Sushi
If you’re brave enough to buy pre-packaged sushi from the grocery store, then you know there are plenty of options available at Trader Joe’s. What you might not know, however, is that Trader Joe’s sushi comes from Fuji Food. In 2019, Fuji Food recalled a variety of ready-to-eat products. This recall also eliminated sushi from Trader Joe’s shelves for a time.
When it comes to price, Trader Joe’s ready-to-eat sushi might be a good deal. But that doesn’t mean it’s a product worth buying. In general, the quality of the sushi is questionable. Plus, the taste just isn’t up to par with other grocery store brands. In short, this Trader Joe’s product is probably one you want to skip.
7 Trader Joe’s Grainless Granola = Wildway Grain-Free Granola
In 2017, big brand Wildway recalled some of its granola over possible listeria-related contamination. Through the recall, shoppers were able to confirm that Wildway grain-free granola is the same as Trader Joe’s grainless granola. For those looking for a healthy granola option, Trader Joe’s granola is a budget-friendly choice.
Wildway grain-free granola can cost as much as $12 per pack. Trader Joe’s granola, on the other hand, is just $4. With a discount like that, it’s a no-brainer to buy your granola from Trader Joe’s. Even better, you can rest assured that you’re still getting good quality granola for a great price.
8 Trader Joe’s Pita Chips With Sea Salt = Stacy’s Pita Chips
While Trader Joe’s is notoriously secretive about where their products come from, it’s safe to assume that their brand of pita chips with sea salt are the same as Stacy’s pita chips. In 2010, Fortune magazine confirmed that the popular TJ’s snack was most likely sourced from Stacy’s, an offshoot of PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay. In addition, the ingredients in both of these popular snacks are exactly the same, supporting the theory that they’re the same product in different packaging.
But when it comes to purchasing your pita chips, going with the Trader Joe’s brand may save you a bit of money. Without the name-brand packaging, Trader Joe’s offers their chips at a discounted rate. You’re getting the same snack as you would find at a big grocery store, but you avoid paying the inflated price for the recognizable name of the product.
9 Trader Joe’s Hummus = Tribe Hummus
If you love hummus, you might be a little picky about the source of your favorite dip. But have no fear, the hummus found at Trader Joe’s is the same as the hummus from Tribe Mediterranean Foods. While Tribe hummus is often found at bigger stores, you can get the same creamy, delicious dip from your local Trader Joe’s.
If you’re picking up a pack of hummus, there’s no better place to shop than Trader Joe’s. While Tribe Hummus and other name-brand products may be a bit expensive, Trader Joe’s hummus is actually quite cheap. Sometimes it costs as little as $1.99 for a delicious dip to store in your fridge. That’s a much better price than you’ll find practically anywhere else.
10 Trader Joe’s Mediterranean Hummus = Bakkavor Hummus
While the regular Trader Joe’s hummus has been linked to Tribe Mediterranean Foods, the Mediterranean hummus is sourced from a different brand. Instead of Tribe, the Mediterranean hummus has been linked to Bakkavor Foods. In 2016, listeria contamination took Bakkavor Food products off the shelves, including Trader Joe’s Mediterranean hummus.
When it comes to this food, Trader Joe’s might be the best place to find this particular brand of hummus. While Bakkavor sells dozens of food products, the Mediterranean hummus, in particular, is associated most closely with Trader Joe’s. You could scan the shelves of other grocery stores for a brand-name hummus, but why bother when you can get the same product at Trader Joe’s?
11 Trader Joe’s Yogurt = Stonyfield Farm Yogurt
If you live on the East Coast, you might be surprised to learn that much of the yogurt at Trader Joe’s comes from Stonyfield Farm. Stonyfield is an organic yogurt company based in New Hampshire, and they supply much of the yogurt for Trader Joe’s, particularly in the areas directly surrounding the farm.
While Stonyfield has a wide range of products available at most grocery stores, you can save a bit of money by buying your yogurt from Trader Joe’s. While it will taste exactly the same as your favorite Stonyfield tub, it may be discounted by as much as one full dollar. That definitely adds up.
12 Trader Joe’s Mango Smoothie = Naked Mango Smoothie
Naked smoothies are known for their refreshing, pure taste. Trader Joe’s shoppers will be excited to learn, then, that the mango smoothies found at Trader Joe’s are an exact replica of the Naked Mango Smoothie. There is proof from FOIA requests that Naked has supplied Trader Joe’s with beverages. Plus, the two smoothies have the exact same ingredients, guaranteeing the exact same taste.
Of course, Naked smoothies can be rather expensive. While the Trader Joe’s version isn’t cheap, it is offered at a slightly discounted price. That means you can partake in your favorite smoothie while still keeping a little extra change in your pocket.
13 Trader Joe’s Egg Salad = Bakkavor Egg Salad
In 2019, there was a big recall of Bakkavor products due to possible listeria contamination. At the time, Trader Joe’s egg salad was removed from the shelves. The removal of the products confirms that the Trader Joe’s treat comes from Bakkavor foods.
In this case, Bakkavor egg salad often can’t be found at any old store. In fact, a large supply of this product is given directly to Trader Joe’s. Therefore, if you’re looking for a somewhat healthy, quick snack, Trader Joe’s egg salad is a great option. Not only is it delicious, but it’s also fairly unique to the smaller grocery store.
14 Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies = Tate’s Bake Shop Cookies
Trader Joe’s gluten-free chocolate chip cookies are a great option for any gluten-intolerant shoppers. While they certainly look unique, they’re actually the exact same product as Tate’s Bake Shop cookies. Tate’s Bake Shop was founded in 1980 and now supplies a variety of delicious baked goods. Along with their own packages of pies, cakes, and brownies, they also supply Trader Joe’s with their gluten-free chocolate chip cookies.
While these morsels are certainly delicious, buying these cookies from Trader Joe’s isn’t the most cost-effective option. In fact, the Trader Joe’s version is almost a full dollar more than the regular Tate’s Bake Shop cookies found in most stores. If you’re craving a sweet treat, you’ll get a better deal buying your cookies elsewhere.
15 Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate-Covered Pretzels = Snack Factory Dark Chocolate Pretzel Crisps
While a solid link between Trader Joe’s dark chocolate-covered pretzels and Snack Factory dark chocolate pretzel crisps hasn’t been established, these are nonetheless the exact same product. Besides the difference in packaging, both pretzel snacks contain the exact same ingredients.
Of course, the Trader Joe’s version is offered at a significantly discounted price. At times, the Trader Joe’s pretzels can be as much as two dollars less than the Snack Factory version. Considering their identical taste, it’s a no-brainer to buy this item at Trader Joe’s.
16 Trader Joe’s Pretzel Slims = Snack Factory Pretzel Crisps
The dark-chocolate covered pretzels aren’t the only Trader Joe’s product copied from Snack Factory. In fact, the regular Trader Joe’s Pretzel Slims are also the same as their Snack Factory counterparts. Not only is the taste identical, but the ingredient list in these two products is almost exactly the same.
While it hasn’t been confirmed that Trader Joe’s sources their pretzels from Snack Factory, the TJ’s snack is nonetheless a perfect option for anyone who loves the Snack Factory version. While the Snack Factory product costs around $4, the Trader Joe’s version is $2 less for a snack that tastes exactly the same as its big-brand counterpart.
17 Trader Joe’s Organic Animal Crackers = Stauffer’s Animal Crackers
Animal crackers are the ultimate snack for any hungry child (or adult). Stauffer’s are perhaps the most recognizable brand of animal crackers. However, shoppers may be surprised to learn that Trader Joe’s animal crackers are identical to the Stauffer’s version. Not only are the ingredients the same, but the Trader Joe’s crackers also come in the same shapes as the big-brand product.
While Stauffer’s animal crackers aren’t expensive by any means, the Trader Joe’s version is still just a little bit cheaper. While a big container of Stauffer’s animal crackers runs about $3.98 per pack, a similar size of the Trader Joe’s animal crackers only costs $3.49. It’s just a few cents difference, but that can mean a lot if animal crackers are must-have snack in your home.
18 Trader Joe’s Indian Meals = Tasty Bite Indian Food
If you’re craving Indian food, Trader Joe’s has plenty of options that will satisfy the rumbling in your stomach. Plus, their packaged Indian meals may actually be a great deal, as they’re sourced from India. Evidence suggests Trader Joe’s Indian meals are actually the same as Tasty Bite Indian food. Tasty Bite is owned by Mars Food and claims to source much of its products from factories in India.
While Trader Joe’s Indian meals are sourced from Tasty Bite, the Trader Joe’s versions of these pre-packaged foods are much more cost effective. At other stores, Tasty Bite meals can cost around $3.39. At Trader Joe’s, they’re a full dollar cheaper.
19 Trader Joe’s Bread = La Boulangerie
While it’s hard to go wrong with any bread, Trader Joe’s bread is an especially good choice for shoppers. The bread is likely from La Boulangerie, a bakery that specializes in freshly baked goods. Evidence suggests La Boulangerie supplies many of its products to Trader Joe’s. In particular, the cranberry twist baguettes and Pain Pascal are likely products of the bakery.
Unlike other brands that can be found in most grocery stores, La Boulangerie is pickier about where their products end up. If you want to try some of their high-quality baked goods, Trader Joe’s is probably your best option to get your hands on a loaf quickly and easily.
20 Fire Roasted Bell Peppers & Onions = McCain Brand
McCain is a Canadian frozen food company best known for its large range of potato products. But in addition to french fries and other delicious snacks, McCain also offers a variety of frozen vegetables. One of the McCain options is a bag of fire-roasted bell peppers and onions that looks quite similar to a Trader Joe’s product of the same name. That’s probably because the Trader Joe’s frozen vegetables are just the McCain version without the name-brand packaging.
In 2018, the FDA recalled a number of food items that included McCain vegetables. One such item that left the shelves was the Trader Joe’s frozen veggies, confirming their source. Thankfully, the Trader Joe’s version is a money-saving option for budget shoppers, as it costs slightly less than the name-brand McCain frozen veggies.
