Aldi expands; why not Trader Joe's?

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Unlike the rest of the retail world, value chains are in a growth spurt. In three weeks, the deep discount grocery store Aldi will open its sixth store in the area, replacing a high-end specialty grocer that left Cascade a year ago.

But some consumers wonder why West Michigan doesn't have the selection of stores as they have on the east side of the state.

Aldi, which added 100 stores last year and another 100 this year, now has 1100 stores in 31 states. They will expand again next year in Grand Rapids, adding a seventh location in 2011 in Grand Rapids Township.

But "I'd love to see a Trader Joe's come in," one shopper told 24 Hour News 8.

Trader Joe's also sells low-priced groceries, but more upscale fare than Aldi. A Facebook page, Bring Trader Joe's to Grand Rapids , has nearly 5400 fans.

But both Aldi and Trader Joe's are private and keep their marketing cards close to their respective vests. But that shopper offered her theory.

"I don't know if (Trader Joe's) could be supported here," she said. "I don't know if we have enough specialty shoppers here to support Trader Joe's."

The California-based company has six stores in Michigan, all within a 60-square mile area on the east side of the state. Officials at the company did not return calls from 24 Hour News 8.

Chain stores won't say why they pick one location and not another, but perhaps this is an explanation:

Of the shoppers who spoke with 24 Hour News 8 for this story, only one noticed there was "more of the same" stores expanding in this region.

24 Hour News 8 was unable to reach the two major retail developers in Grand Rapids to ask if they've been turned away by Trader Joes or Wholefoods and the like.

According to its webside, Trader Joes is opening six stores this year in Athens, Georgia; New York City; Omaha, Nebraska; Portland, Maine; Rochester, Minnesota and West Des Moines, Iowa.