Trader Joe’s has announced plans to expand the number of stores it has in the U.S. in 2025. The grocery chain intends to add a dozen new stores to its footprint this year. The chain hasn’t said when these locations will open, only saying that it will be soon.
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This builds on Trader Joe’s ongoing expansion plan that saw it open four locations in December 2024. That was part of a larger expansion last year including new openings for more than two dozen locations, with over 500 currently open. That’s quite the expansion considering the company started with only a single store in Pasadena, California in 1967.
Where Will the New Trader Joe’s Store Be Located?
Trader Joe’s does reveal the general location of these new stores. The retailer says three will open in California and another two will be added in both Washington and the District of Columbia. The remaining stores will be spread across Alabama, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.
While we don’t know what cities many of these locations will open in, Trader Joe’s typically targets those without one of its stores. However, the company has noted it considers locations with nearby Trader Joe’s stores if traffic patterns make it difficult to get between the two. That’s something it might consider with these new stores.
Can Traders Invest in Trader Joe’s?
The average investor can’t take a stake in Trader Joe’s as it’s a private company. Instead, investors might consider taking stakes in its rivals. A few major ones worth considering are Walmart (WMT), Costco (COST), and Kroger (KR).
Walmart is likely the best investment of these. The company carries a Strong Buy rating, 9.62% upside potential, a 0.9% dividend yield, and an eight out of 10 Smart Score. However, investors willing to take a risk might shoot for Costco with its Moderate Buy rating, 16.35% upside potential, 0.49% dividend yield, and five out of 10 Smart Score. Kroger is a more even investment with a Moderate Buy rating, 9.94% upside potential, 1.99% dividend yield, and six out of 10 Smart Score.
