Joe Coulombe, Founder of Trader Joe’s, Dies at 89
Written by SOURCE on February 29, 2020
Joe Coulombe, the founder of Trader Joe’s, has passed away on Friday at his Pasadena, California home. Coulombe was 89 years old.
Coulombe’s son, Joe Coulombe, Jr., confirmed his father’s death. Per Joe Jr., his father died after battling a “long illness.” Coulombe started developing the idea for Trader Joe’s back in 1967. After 7-Eleven stores started to flood Southern California, Coulombe decided to launch a chain that brings educated, young adults global food at a low price. His ideas paved the way for him to open his first Trader Joe’s in Pasadena, California.
In 1972, Joe decided to capitalize on the success of his growing chain by introducing its own private label. He started by producing granola before expanding to a wide range of items. This includes Trader Joe’s popular Charles Shaw wine, which is affectionately known as “Two Buck Chuck.” In 1979, Joe sold the company to German grocery retailer Aldi Nord. He retired from the company nine years later.
Since selling Trader Joe’s, the chain has expanded to include 500 locations in 42 states and Washington, D.C. Despite going corporate, Trader Joe’s maintained Coulombe’s commitment to health, affordable pricing, and quality. In 2019, Consumer Reports named Trader Joe’s the best grocery store based on customer satisfaction.
In his retirement, Joe and his wife supported various cultural institutions. He also hosted a local radio show in Los Angeles in which he spoke about his world travels, building Trader Joe’s, and other random facts. Joe is survived by his wife, their three children, their spouses, and six grandchildren.
