Trader Joe’s Tzatziki Dip is made by an undisclosed private label supplier, as Trader Joe’s does not publicly reveal the manufacturers behind its store-brand products. Product details are on the Trader Joe’s official website.
Trader Joe’s is known for its private label strategy, where it sells products under its own name rather than recognizable national brands, often delivering quality comparable to name-brand alternatives at a lower price.
Trader Joe’s is owned by the Albrecht family through Aldi Nord, the German retail group, though it operates entirely separately from Aldi stores in the United States, which are run by a different family branch called Aldi Süd.
Knowing who owns Trader Joe’s and how its private label system works helps shoppers understand the sourcing model behind popular products like the tzatziki dip that appear on the shelves with no other brand name.
This article covers Trader Joe’s ownership, how the store sources its private label products, what is in the tzatziki dip, and what makes it one of the most popular items in the store.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Who Owns Trader Joe’s?
Trader Joe’s is owned by the Albrecht family, the German retail dynasty behind Aldi Nord, one of the world’s largest grocery chains.
Trader Joe’s was founded in 1958 as Pronto Markets by Joe Coulombe in Pasadena, California. Theo Albrecht purchased the chain in 1979 and it has been family owned ever since.
Trader Joe’s is private, with no publicly traded shares, no public financial disclosures, and no obligation to reveal its supplier relationships, which is why product manufacturers are almost never disclosed.
Who Makes the Tzatziki Dip?
Trader Joe’s does not publicly disclose who manufactures its Tzatziki Creamy Garlic Cucumber Dip or any other store-brand product.
Trader Joe’s own product page describes the dip as developed in partnership with “one of our favorite domestic fresh foods suppliers,” confirming it is made by a US-based food company that created the recipe exclusively for Trader Joe’s.
This supplier relationship is not publicly named and keeping it confidential is a deliberate business strategy. Trader Joe’s product development team works closely with suppliers to create exclusive formulas that cannot be purchased elsewhere.
What Is Trader Joe’s Tzatziki Made Of?
The Trader Joe’s Tzatziki Creamy Garlic Cucumber Dip is made primarily from cucumber, kefir cheese, nonfat sour cream, water, lemon juice, garlic, sea salt, and spices.
The recipe differs slightly from traditional Greek tzatziki, which typically uses strained yogurt as the base. The use of kefir cheese and sour cream gives the Trader Joe’s version a distinctive tangy, creamy texture.
Trader Joe’s also sells an Avocado Tzatziki variation that blends the original tzatziki base with 30% freshly diced avocado and diced jalapeños, created by Trader Joe’s buyers after the original became a cult favorite.
How Does Trader Joe’s Private Label System Work?
Trader Joe’s operates almost entirely on private label products, meaning the store’s name appears on the packaging instead of a brand manufacturer’s name.
Trader Joe’s buyers travel the world, find products or suppliers they like, and work with those suppliers to develop exclusive recipes or reformulate existing products for the Trader Joe’s customer.
The tzatziki is a classic example of this model. A Trader Joe’s buyer found tzatziki in Greece, worked with a domestic supplier to recreate it with Greek yogurt, and launched it as a Trader Joe’s exclusive. It has been sold at the store ever since.
Trader Joe’s vs Aldi vs Whole Foods: Who Owns Each?
All three are grocery chains but with entirely different ownership structures. Trader Joe’s is owned by the Albrecht family through Aldi Nord. Aldi stores in the US are operated by Aldi Süd, a separate branch of the same German family that operates independently. Whole Foods is owned by Amazon, which acquired it in 2017 for $13.7 billion.
Despite the Aldi Nord connection, Trader Joe’s and US Aldi stores share no management, products, or branding. A shopper visiting both stores would have no way to tell they are connected to the same family ownership.
All three stores use private label products extensively. Trader Joe’s is around 80% private label. Aldi US is around 90% private label. Whole Foods sells a mix of national brands and its private label 365 line.
What Other Trader Joe’s Products Are Made by Undisclosed Suppliers?
Almost all Trader Joe’s products are made by undisclosed suppliers. The store’s entire business model is built on supplier confidentiality.
Occasionally, product recalls reveal manufacturer identities. For example, a recall confirmed that Fuji Food Products supplies Trader Joe’s ready-to-eat sushi. But for most products including the tzatziki, the manufacturer remains unnamed.
Shoppers who want to know more can sometimes identify clues from ingredient lists or packaging that match known manufacturers, but Trader Joe’s itself will not confirm suppliers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Trader Joe’s Tzatziki
Is Trader Joe’s owned by Aldi?
Trader Joe’s is owned by the Albrecht family through Aldi Nord. However, it operates separately from Aldi stores in the US, which are run by a different family branch called Aldi Süd. The two store chains share family ownership but have entirely separate management, products, and branding.
Why doesn’t Trader Joe’s reveal its suppliers?
Supplier confidentiality is a core part of Trader Joe’s business model. Revealing manufacturers would allow competitors to source the same products, undermining the exclusive nature of Trader Joe’s lineup. Keeping suppliers private also gives Trader Joe’s flexibility to change manufacturers without confusing customers.
How long has Trader Joe’s sold tzatziki?
Trader Joe’s has sold its Tzatziki Creamy Garlic Cucumber Dip for more than twenty years, making it one of the store’s longest-running refrigerated dip products. The Avocado Tzatziki variation was added after the original became a consistent bestseller.
Is Trader Joe’s tzatziki the same as Aldi’s tzatziki?
No. Despite the family ownership connection, Trader Joe’s and Aldi operate completely separate product lines with different suppliers and recipes. The two stores have no shared inventory, and their tzatziki products are different formulations from different undisclosed manufacturers.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.