Trader Joe's Coming to Newington

Trader Joe's is coming to Newington and will soon give Portsmouth area residents the opportunity to purchase its unique food items.

Company officials at Trader Joe's headquarters in Monrovia, Calif., issued a press release on Monday evening saying they plan to open a new store in a 14,700 square foot space at The Crossings at Fox Run later this year. They indicated they have signed a lease for the space.

The store will sell beer and wine and many exotic foods in a festive environment that mixes traditional Trader Joe’s elements such as cedar covered walls and Hawaiian motifs, combined with a local flair that includes art celebrating the neighborhood.

According to company officials, Trader Joe's carries an extensive array of domestic and imported foods and beverages including fresh baked artisan breads, Arabica bean coffees, international frozen entrées, 100 percent juices, fresh crop nuts, deli items, and vitamins and supplements, as well as the basics, like milk and eggs at reasonable prices..

"Trader Joe’s is truly a grocery store unlike any other. Trader Joe’s is a  “store of stories,” meaning every item in the store has its own virtues - high quality ingredients, great flavor or simply an extraordinary price - many items often feature all of those qualities," reads the company's press release.

Company officials also state that Trader Joe's is able to offer unique groceries at reasonable prices because the stores offer more than 1,000 items under the Trader Joe’s private label, which includes Trader José's salsas, Trader Ming’s fried rice, Trader Giotto’s marinara sauces, in addition to specially purchased items.

They also stated that Trader Joe's purchases its food items from manufacturers, not distributors. The store will also take a brand name product, take out the preservatives and artificial colors and ingredients, and put it under their Trader Joe’s label to sell it at a real discount, according to Trader Joe's.

"Trader Joe’s introduces approximately a dozen new items every week, heightening the store’s adventurous appeal. Our buyers travel around the world searching out unique products at great values. In order for an item to be sold in a Trader Joe’s store, it must pass the scrutiny of a discerning tasting panel. Thousands of items are tasted each year to find products that both appeal to the culinary adventurer and microwave aficionado," reads the company's press release.

Company officials say Portsmouth area residents can expect to receive copies of Trader Joe's "The Fearless Flyer" in their mailboxes, which lists the store's products. Company officials said the flyer highlights a selection of Trader Joe’s products that the company buyers believe are worthy of customer interest, including comfort foods and items that are organic or have other special attributes.

Trader Joe's began in Los Angeles in 1958 and now has more than 365 stores in 31 states.