Trader Joe's Research Paper

America's food standards for health constantly start to debate, because is any of it healthy? One of the most widely consumed items is, hot chips. Every time I visit a grocery store, convenience store, or even a school vending machine, they are either low in stock or completely sold out. For years, kids, teens, and adults have indulged in Cheetos and Takis for their simple flavor and pleasure. Now, a new healthier version of the hot chip has gained popularity on social media: Trader Joe’s Rolled Chili & Lime Tortilla Chips. With this increase in demand for a supposedly "healthier" hot chip, why is it healthier, less affordable than other hot chips, and only available in select stores? When I see Takis, Hot Cheetos, and Trader Joe’s chip bags

Hot chips are a staple in America due to their affordability. Taki sells for under $0.60 per ounce, Hot Cheetos for under $0.69 per ounce, and Trader Joe’s offers them for under $0.40 per ounce. Trader Joe’s being more budget-friendly can be demonstrated in two ways. The store may be catering to a specific socioeconomic group that has certain personal responsibilities/ values regarding food choices/consumption. Alternatively, Trader Joe’s might face challenges in establishing a higher presence in more economically diverse areas, driving them to offer products at a lower price point. Both perspectives can be critiqued by the risk-benefit analysis. Trader Joe’s are usually located in cheaper parts of expensive areas, making them easily accessible to individuals with greater income for healthier food choices. Despite hot chips not being considered a healthy option, their lower pricing (risk) at Trader Joe’s may be a tactic to outdo competitors in those areas (benefit). From the consumer perspective, they take the risk of eating hot chips or traveling further for the benefit of eating a healthier option at a cheaper retail

This raises the question: why doesn’t Trader Joe’s expand and allow their chips to be sold on more shelves? The craving for hot chips happens in the morning, afternoon, and even at midnight. Takis and Hot Cheetos are always available at numerous grocery and convenience stores, as well as vending machines. Despite the increasing popularity of Trader Joe's tortilla chips, their accessibility remains limited. This limitation appears intentional, as Trader Joe's seems to be selectively avoiding contributing to the trend of overconsumption and normalizing eating snacks as meals. The store's decision to make their healthier hot chips less available could be interpreted as a deliberate effort to distance themselves from environments that produce obesogenic conditions. Alternatively, Trader Joe’s marketing may purposefully steer away from promoting excessive consumption of their products. In contrast to the strategies used by Takis and Hot Cheetos, which emphasize accessibility and constant consumption. Additionally, there is a major difference in packaging sizes—Takis has 25-ounce bags, Hot Cheetos 15-ounce bags, and Trader Joe's with 9-ounce