Trader Joe's is a popular grocery store chain that carries a high number of products that are exclusive to the company, many of which are organic. San Francisco has three locations, in North Beach, SoMa and the Western Addition, and people often travel across town for some of these specialties.

Trader Joe's locations tend to have a limited selection of produce, often prepackaged. Sometimes items are discontinued because increased prices are preventing the company from providing customers with competitive prices — at least according to Trader Joe's employees.

The company's website provides lists of kosher, gluten-free, low-fat and low-sodium products, as well as items containing rennet.

The home of two-buck chuck (Charles Shaw) wine.

Trader Joe's was previously owned a German billionaire called Theo Albrecht, who started up the large German grocery store chain Aldi Nord. Theo Albrecht died on July 24, 2010. Ownership is now believed to belong to a family trust set up by Theo Albrecht.

Even though Trader Joe's is not a locally owned company, it sets itself apart from other chains like Walmart by giving their employees reasonable pay and benefits. Trader Joe's offers food at everyday low prices as opposed to other stores that only put items on sale for limited periods of time.