Trader Joe's, as you may already know, is coming to Asheville. Here's the press release, which is beginning to make the rounds:

"Trader Joe’s, a unique, neighborhood grocery store with foods and beverages from the exotic to the basic, has signed a lease to open a new store in Asheville located at 120 Merrimon Avenue. The store is scheduled to open in 2013 and is approximately 13,000 square feet in size.

The 'Trader' in Trader Joe’s refers to the way the company blazed a distinct trail through the grocery industry, searching the world for great values and distinctive products. Store employees, dubbed 'Crew Members,' consider themselves 'traders on the culinary high seas.' Crew Members sport brightly colored Hawaiian-themed shirts, adding to the friendly and light-hearted air of the store.

...Trader Joe’s carries an extensive array of domestic and imported foods and beverages including fresh baked artisan breads, Arabica bean coffees, international frozen entrées, 100% juices, fresh crop nuts, deli items, and vitamins and supplements, as well as the basics, like milk and eggs – all at honest, low prices.

...Another significant point of difference, all of Trader Joe’s prices are everyday prices. Trader Joe’s doesn’t have sales for a few days, only to hike the prices back up again. Their prices change only when their costs change — there are no fancy promotions, discount cards or couponing wars.

So how does Trader Joe’s offer unique groceries at prices everyone can afford?  By offering more than 1000 items under the Trader Joe’s private label, which includes Trader José’s salsas, Trader Ming’s fried rice, Trader Giotto’s marinara sauces, in addition to specially purchased items.

Also, Trader Joe’s buys differently than other grocers – they purchase from manufacturers, not through distributors. They’ll take a brand name product, take out the preservatives and artificial colors and ingredients, and put it under their Trader Joe’s label to sell it at a real discount.

...Trader Joe’s is a chain of neighborhood grocery stores featuring high quality imported and domestic foods and beverages at honest, low prices. Trader Joe’s (http://www.traderjoes.com) began in 1958 in the Los Angeles area.  Since then, Trader Joe’s has expanded to more than 370 stores in 33 states.