Comments on: Say it ain’t so, Joe’s! http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2009/03/02/say-it-aint-so-joes/ Hot Stuff from King Arthur's Hearth Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:35:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Newton http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2009/03/02/say-it-aint-so-joes/#comment-21684 Newton Sun, 11 Oct 2009 08:45:51 +0000 http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2009/03/02/say-it-aint-so-joes/#comment-21684 I do not buy this post. Why would you go out of your way to tell us that the flour is NOT King Arthur? Think about it this way: if Trader Joe's decided to private label King Arthur Flour, would it be announced to the public? No. That would defeat the whole purpose of private labeling. That a special announcement was made here and at TJ's actually calls attention to the issue instead of defusing it. The only thing that has changed is King Arthur's brand is now valuable enough to protect with a private label. Trader Joe's was probably angering King Arthur's other accounts by selling it at such a low price point. Now KA gets to join Stacy's, Amy's, Crystal Geyser, Tasty Bite, Galaxy Desserts, etc. as established food manufacturers that do brisk business with Trader Joe's under private label. <strong>Thank you for your comments. Please allow me to share Trader Joe's statement regarding their flour. A Note About Trader Joe’s Baker’s Pantry Flour: We want to let you know that Trader Joe’s no longer sells King Arthur Flour. We have decided to private label our own brand of flour. As King Arthur does not private label its goods, we no longer carry King Arthur Flour product in our stores. “Baker’s Pantry” Flour is our own private label flour and is not affiliated or related to King Arthur Flour. I hope this helps clarify any questions about our flour and Trader Joe's. MJR @ KAF </strong> I do not buy this post. Why would you go out of your way to tell us that the flour is NOT King Arthur? Think about it this way: if Trader Joe’s decided to private label King Arthur Flour, would it be announced to the public? No. That would defeat the whole purpose of private labeling. That a special announcement was made here and at TJ’s actually calls attention to the issue instead of defusing it.

The only thing that has changed is King Arthur’s brand is now valuable enough to protect with a private label. Trader Joe’s was probably angering King Arthur’s other accounts by selling it at such a low price point. Now KA gets to join Stacy’s, Amy’s, Crystal Geyser, Tasty Bite, Galaxy Desserts, etc. as established food manufacturers that do brisk business with Trader Joe’s under private label.
Thank you for your comments. Please allow me to share Trader Joe’s statement regarding their flour.

A Note About Trader Joe’s Baker’s Pantry Flour:
We want to let you know that Trader Joe’s no longer sells King Arthur Flour. We have decided to private label our own brand of flour. As King Arthur does not private label its goods, we no longer carry King Arthur Flour product in our stores. “Baker’s Pantry” Flour is our own private label flour and is not affiliated or related to King Arthur Flour.

I hope this helps clarify any questions about our flour and Trader Joe’s. MJR @ KAF

]]> By: m9ke http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2009/03/02/say-it-aint-so-joes/#comment-15342 m9ke Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:27:51 +0000 http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2009/03/02/say-it-aint-so-joes/#comment-15342 Reading this from the top, looks like this has been happening for a long while. However I just saw it for the first time at my local TJ's in South San Francisco, CA. The labels I saw on the TJ's house brand are so similar in appearance to 'real' King Arthur labels that I figured that KA and TJs had worked out a business partnership. I thought this even more when I saw Joe's offering White Whole Wheat flour, a product I had previously only seen from KA. I thought this would have been a good deal for both sides: huge volume for KA and a really top quality product for TJ's. Understanding that companies often want to keep business agreements confidential, I won't ask if the TJ's product is 'really' re-packaged KA flour. Plus, all the comments in this thread seem to indicate that Trader Joe's flour is not repackaged KA flour. I will say that if in fact the flour inside TJ's private label sacks is not KA, then the TJ's label that I saw is too similar to the King Arthur label. Looking at the label, it's hard not to interpret this similarity as intentional deception. <strong>In fact, it's not King Arthur Flour in Trader Joe's bag... I can assure you of that. Thanks for connecting- PJH</strong> Reading this from the top, looks like this has been happening for a long while. However I just saw it for the first time at my local TJ’s in South San Francisco, CA.

The labels I saw on the TJ’s house brand are so similar in appearance to ‘real’ King Arthur labels that I figured that KA and TJs had worked out a business partnership. I thought this even more when I saw Joe’s offering White Whole Wheat flour, a product I had previously only seen from KA. I thought this would have been a good deal for both sides: huge volume for KA and a really top quality product for TJ’s.

Understanding that companies often want to keep business agreements confidential, I won’t ask if the TJ’s product is ‘really’ re-packaged KA flour. Plus, all the comments in this thread seem to indicate that Trader Joe’s flour is not repackaged KA flour.

I will say that if in fact the flour inside TJ’s private label sacks is not KA, then the TJ’s label that I saw is too similar to the King Arthur label. Looking at the label, it’s hard not to interpret this similarity as intentional deception.

In fact, it’s not King Arthur Flour in Trader Joe’s bag… I can assure you of that. Thanks for connecting- PJH

]]> By: Jeff Davis http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2009/03/02/say-it-aint-so-joes/#comment-15008 Jeff Davis Wed, 17 Jun 2009 05:47:54 +0000 http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2009/03/02/say-it-aint-so-joes/#comment-15008 Now I have no reason at all left to go to TJ's. Bad move, Joe. Now I have no reason at all left to go to TJ’s. Bad move, Joe.

]]> By: Dan M http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2009/03/02/say-it-aint-so-joes/#comment-14154 Dan M Mon, 25 May 2009 22:11:34 +0000 http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2009/03/02/say-it-aint-so-joes/#comment-14154 This is quite unfortunate! They were always the lowest price in town for your flour. I will stay loyal to KAF, you just can't beat the quality! This definitely gives me motivation to find a distributor where I can purchase a 50 lbs bag of White Whole Wheat. By the way... I noticed that the recipe on your website for the Faux-Reos filling omits the gelatin as written in the Cookie Companion. How does this effect the final product? Thanks! <strong>Hi Dan - I decided the gelatin really wasn't necessary... recipes do somehow seem to change over time, or maybe I just got lazier! PJH</strong> This is quite unfortunate! They were always the lowest price in town for your flour. I will stay loyal to KAF, you just can’t beat the quality! This definitely gives me motivation to find a distributor where I can purchase a 50 lbs bag of White Whole Wheat.

By the way… I noticed that the recipe on your website for the Faux-Reos filling omits the gelatin as written in the Cookie Companion. How does this effect the final product?

Thanks!

Hi Dan - I decided the gelatin really wasn’t necessary… recipes do somehow seem to change over time, or maybe I just got lazier! PJH

]]> By: flourchild http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2009/03/02/say-it-aint-so-joes/#comment-13712 flourchild Mon, 04 May 2009 16:29:22 +0000 http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2009/03/02/say-it-aint-so-joes/#comment-13712 PJ, I already ordered bakers ammonia from you last year and haven't used it since. I would really like to incorporate it into these cookies for the farmers market. Could you tell me how much to add and what alterations that would cause to the recipe if this info is easily available to you? Thanks so much for all your help, as always. What would I do without you and KAF? I get the feeling TJ might be wondering the same thing in a short while. Shame on anyone who thinks the dollar is the be-all, end-all for such a fine company as KAF. Obviously, they just came on board recently or they would know the importance KAF places on quality for the lowest price possible. And if the relationships that KAF nurtures with their bakers/consumers is any indication, I would assume this carries over to the relationships with business partners as well. KAF is still supporting Trader Joe's despite the withdrawal of business, taking the high road. Other companies might use this situation to steer their wealth of customers away from Trader Joe's... KAF just applauds them for their fine products and shows understand for their business goals. That should speak volumes to anyone who cares to listen. <strong>Since there is no leavener in this recipe to convert; This will be an experiment. I suggest you begin between 1/8 -1/4 teaspoon, adjusting as needed. Frank @ KAF.</strong> <strong>Thanks for your kind words. You could also simply use the <a href="http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/fudgies-recipe" rel="nofollow">Fudgies cookie recipe</a>, which uses baker's ammonia - rolled in smaller balls... - PJH</strong> PJ, I already ordered bakers ammonia from you last year and haven’t used it since. I would really like to incorporate it into these cookies for the farmers market. Could you tell me how much to add and what alterations that would cause to the recipe if this info is easily available to you? Thanks so much for all your help, as always. What would I do without you and KAF? I get the feeling TJ might be wondering the same thing in a short while. Shame on anyone who thinks the dollar is the be-all, end-all for such a fine company as KAF. Obviously, they just came on board recently or they would know the importance KAF places on quality for the lowest price possible. And if the relationships that KAF nurtures with their bakers/consumers is any indication, I would assume this carries over to the relationships with business partners as well. KAF is still supporting Trader Joe’s despite the withdrawal of business, taking the high road. Other companies might use this situation to steer their wealth of customers away from Trader Joe’s… KAF just applauds them for their fine products and shows understand for their business goals. That should speak volumes to anyone who cares to listen.

Since there is no leavener in this recipe to convert; This will be an experiment. I suggest you begin between 1/8 -1/4 teaspoon, adjusting as needed. Frank @ KAF.

Thanks for your kind words. You could also simply use the Fudgies cookie recipe, which uses baker’s ammonia - rolled in smaller balls… - PJH

]]> By: Marie http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2009/03/02/say-it-aint-so-joes/#comment-13650 Marie Fri, 01 May 2009 19:17:37 +0000 http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2009/03/02/say-it-aint-so-joes/#comment-13650 Thanks for the update on TJ's flour. I just went to grab a bag of flour the other day and did a double-take as I put it into the cart. The TJ's packaging bears a strong resemblance to KA! But I prefer to buy my KA flour at Whole Foods. Here in Chicago I've noticed that it is consistently at least $1 per bag cheaper at Whole Foods than TJ's! Thanks for the update on TJ’s flour. I just went to grab a bag of flour the other day and did a double-take as I put it into the cart. The TJ’s packaging bears a strong resemblance to KA! But I prefer to buy my KA flour at Whole Foods. Here in Chicago I’ve noticed that it is consistently at least $1 per bag cheaper at Whole Foods than TJ’s!

]]> By: Rebecca Dru http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2009/03/02/say-it-aint-so-joes/#comment-13438 Rebecca Dru Sun, 26 Apr 2009 06:23:44 +0000 http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2009/03/02/say-it-aint-so-joes/#comment-13438 I think it's a major mistake....ever since TJ's was sold....they're becoming just like all the other markets creating their own brand name instead of being the wonderful specialty store they were... There's always King Arthur's catalogue and online store.......as well as all the other supermarkets in town. I think it’s a major mistake….ever since TJ’s was sold….they’re becoming just like all the other markets creating their own brand name instead of being the wonderful specialty store they were…
There’s always King Arthur’s catalogue and online store…….as well as all the other supermarkets in town.

]]> By: Dawn http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2009/03/02/say-it-aint-so-joes/#comment-13180 Dawn Sat, 18 Apr 2009 01:24:51 +0000 http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2009/03/02/say-it-aint-so-joes/#comment-13180 I went to TJ's today to my King Arthur Flour and found it was no more. Sales people say their private label is King Arhtur but I had to find out the truth and I'm glad I found out. Will have to buy KA at Whole Foods now. I went to TJ’s today to my King Arthur Flour and found it was no more. Sales people say their private label is King Arhtur but I had to find out the truth and I’m glad I found out. Will have to buy KA at Whole Foods now.

]]> By: bloglittlepeople http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2009/03/02/say-it-aint-so-joes/#comment-12704 bloglittlepeople Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:10:45 +0000 http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2009/03/02/say-it-aint-so-joes/#comment-12704 Keep up the good work! Keep up the good work!

]]> By: Pauline http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2009/03/02/say-it-aint-so-joes/#comment-12494 Pauline Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:29:55 +0000 http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2009/03/02/say-it-aint-so-joes/#comment-12494 Imagine the look in a child's eyes when you hand them a Joe Reo's.... Imagine the look in a child’s eyes when you hand them a Joe Reo’s….

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