Joe Coulombe, the creator of Trader Joe’s Market, has passed away at the age of 89.
According to Fox News, Coulombe envisioned a new generation of young grocery shoppers emerging in the 1960s and created a marketplace for the ones that wanted healthy, tasty, high-quality food they couldn’t find in most
supermarkets. He made his markets for those who couldn’t afford to buy in the few high-end gourmet outlets.
Coulombe opened his first store in Pasadena, California, in August of 1967 and watched his namesake business rise from a cult favorite of educated but underpaid young hippies to a retail giant with more than 500 outlets in over 40 states.
He sold Trader Joe’s to German grocery retailer Aldi in 1979 but remained as its CEO until 1988, when he left to launch a second career as what he called a “temp,” coming in as interim CEO or consultant for several large companies in transitional stages, before retiring in 2013.
Coulombe leaves behind his wife, three kids, and six grandchildren.
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