But could someone please explain this to me? Bryce picked up this flyer from our mailbox and was perplexed by these "Trader Joe's" products. "Trader Joe's " items at an ALDI grocery store? ALDI is a German based grocery store.Look at the items for sale. And the packaging. Very "American." These products don't at all resemble the things that are sold at Trader Joe stores. Hot dogs in a jar and peanut butter. Nothing says America like they do.
What's going on here?
Post Script: Owned by the same company. . . of course. Still weird. What a small world we live in.
9 comments:
But we have the Aldi grocery stores here now! Not sure what's going on:).
Maybe it's a different company who's selling those "trader joe" items, i.e. not the same "trader joe" as your used to from the US...I don't know.
Aldi has an "American week" about once or twice a year.
That's hilarious! Welcome to Europe and its fascination with Americans and the American culture. Do you not also have Lidl in Luxembourg...Lidl is also a big German food chain (and direct competitor to Aldi)...their version of "American" products are called "McKennedy". It's really rather hilarious...Lidl holds a special based on various countries, one week it's Italian week, one week it's Asian week...
It's funny! At least, it allows you to purchase things like microwave popcorn or get the truly yellow mustard you would only find back in North America, when you feel a little home sick though, to date, the peanut butter has never really made the cut...Luckily, my husband's on a business trip back home and will be stocking up on our favourites: PB, vanilla essence, bounce dryer sheets...the list can get pretty long!
They're owned by the same company.
I believe Trader Joes is owned by the Aldi company. I'm not sure where I read that but it might pop up if you google it :)
Annabel - I think we do have a Lidl, but I haven't been in it. I know what you mean about missing certain products. I bubble wrapped a jar of tahini and brought it home with me for hummus and salad dressing.
I shop at a French grocery store, Auchan, and the "American Foods" are located on the ethnic food aisle. Cracks me up. I need to take a picture of the products in the American section - Oreos, marshmallows, Jack Daniels Fudge and Jelly Bellys.
The European impression of America(ns) does make me smile . . . so right on and completely off at the same time. Know what I mean?
Is vanilla essence the same as vanilla extract?
yeah the aldi in Australia sometimes has an american section with weird products!!
oh no- That really doesn't remind me of what trader Joe's products are really like here. How interesting it's owned by the same company!
Sorry, I had my French head on and was translating to English! Vanilla extract is exactly it! Can't find it here to save my life, so I'm getting my husband to buy the Costco size bottle..
I do know what you mean about it being amusing and weird at the same time...But like I said, it sure feels good to at least find some tastes of home once in awhile (especially when you have no guests on the horizon to give you your refill of old favourites!)...
I do know about Auchan, when we lived in Belgium we used to cross into France and shop there...I used to love the never ending cheese aisles! However, I do prefer Carrefour and Leclerc in terms of variety and quality of their home brands...
Wish we were living a little more South to have access to those "Grandes surfaces" stores...here, the ethnic section consists mostly of Thai food (number one vacation destination for Swedes)...So even when I head to France to visit my parents, I stock up on loads of stuff there too!!
You should try Lidl, they do have great weekly specials in terms of their stuffity stuff as my mom and I say, not too bad too...
It's fun realizing that you're not alone in discovering all these oddities! ;o)
Marcelle in Sweden
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