6 TRADER JOE'S PRODUCTS ALLEGEDLY MADE BY YOUR FAVORITE BIG BRANDS

Trader Joe’s has such a cult following that people are shelling out thousands of dollars just to get their hands on one of its pastel-colored tote bags. The parking lots are always packed, the checkout lines are always long, and shoppers keep coming back because the products are not only affordable but genuinely delicious.

While Trader Joe’s sells its own-branded products, the chain sources most of its inventory from third-party manufacturers and sells those products under the Trader Joe’s label. Many of those suppliers are major household name companies, including brands tied to PepsiCo and Frito-Lay. That said, stores with big private-label programs, like Trader Joe’s and Costco, tend to keep their supplier relationships pretty quiet.

However, consumers have found a few sneaky ways to connect the dots. Comparing ingredient labels can offer clues about whether a Trader Joe’s item is likely being made by another well-known brand. And when major recalls happen, the FDA or USDA sometimes identifies where the affected products were sold, which can help reveal the supplier behind certain items, too.

Pita Chips

Many eagle-eyed shoppers have come to the conclusion that Trader Joe’s Pita Chips are made by Frito-Lay. More specifically, people have noticed that the ingredients in Stacy’s Simply Naked Pita Chips are an exact match to the Trader Joe’s version. Coincidence? I’ll let you decide.

Very Green 100% Juice Smoothie

Your local bodega and airport newsstand are probably stocked with Naked Juice smoothies, and the brand is also a rumored supplier of some of Trader Joe’s refrigerated drinks. That includes Mango 100% Juice Smoothie and Very Green Juice 100% Juice Smoothie. The mango version appears to have the exact same ingredients as Naked’s, while the green version is awfully similar, too.

Dry Roasted & Salted Pistachios

About 10 years ago, a recall involving Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds LLC tipped off shoppers that the famous brand was responsible for three types of pistachios sold at Trader Joe’s. Interestingly, this is one of the cases where buying the TJ’s version doesn’t save you that much. Trader Joe’s sells its pistachios for $7.49, while Wonderful’s usually lands somewhere between $8.99 and $9.99 at Walgreens.

Creamy Dreamy Hummus

Years ago, Tribe recalled Trader Joe’s hummusover undeclared allergens, revealing its role as a supplier. Tribe is known for its Mediterranean-style hummus and dips, with flavors like red pepper, roasted garlic, and even dark chocolate.

Lemony Arugula Basil Salad Kit

Taylor Farms, the company behind many of the salad kitsyou see at mainstream grocery stores, is believed to be the supplier for several of Trader Joe’s salad kits. Past recalls have backed that up, and many of the ingredients in Trader Joe’s versions are near-perfect matches for the Taylor Farms products, including the Lemony Arugula Basil Salad Kit.

Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups

One of Trader Joe’s most beloved products is reportedly made by Bazzini, a company best known for gourmet nuts, dried fruit, and snack mixes. A recall in 2021 brought that detail to light.

The Rumors Don’t End There

There are plenty of other rumored suppliers behind fan-favorite Trader Joe’s products, though many of those theories have not been officially confirmed. For example, some shoppers believe Pirate’s Booty may be behind Trader Joe’s World’s Puffiest White Cheddar Corn Puffs, while others suspect Snack Factory is the real source of the chain’s Thin & Crunchy Pretzel Slims.

Why This Works For Everyone

Former Trader Joe’s employee and Delish Deputy Editor of Community Camille Lowder says this kind of arrangement can benefit both Trader Joe’s and its suppliers.

“Maybe it's that some small brand overproduced and needs someone to sell their niche thing, and Trader Joe's can rename it ‘Springle Jangle’ and sell it out,” she explains. “Maybe it's that some name brand like General Mills is getting some factory to churn out Cheerios for pennies on the dollar, and that factory can sell them to Trader Joe's without the packaging and name markup, and everyone makes money on that sale.”

She continues, adding: “They also source around the country/world for small producers who couldn't handle producing the amount of product they'd need to sell at a larger grocery chain, but can create enough for Trader Joe's.”

Basically, it can be a win for the little guys, a win for Trader Joe’s, and, of course, a win for us customers!

2026-05-08T16:44:40Z