Trader Joe's , Bringing Back Free Samples , to Select Locations.<br />CNN reports that following a long <br />pandemic hiatus, free samples have <br />officially returned to Trader Joe's.<br />CNN reports that following a long <br />pandemic hiatus, free samples have <br />officially returned to Trader Joe's.<br />The grocery chain has decided to bring <br />back in-store food samples at select <br />locations starting on October 1. .<br />The grocery chain has decided to bring <br />back in-store food samples at select <br />locations starting on October 1. .<br />Social media users across multiple platforms <br />uploaded photos and videos of some <br />of the samples over the weekend.<br />According to employees at the chain's New York and California locations, single-serve snacks and treats will make a comeback, but hot coffee will not.<br />According to employees at the chain's New York and California locations, single-serve snacks and treats will make a comeback, but hot coffee will not.<br />CNN reports that while food demos will return <br />to some locations, Trader Joe's will not be <br />relaunching the demo program nationwide.<br />Yuval Selik, the CEO of Promomash, a company <br />that works with brands on samples and promotion <br />strategy, startup brands rely on store demos.<br />Yuval Selik, the CEO of Promomash, a company <br />that works with brands on samples and promotion <br />strategy, startup brands rely on store demos.<br />Selik pointed to KeVita, Beyond Meat and Kashi <br />as emerging brands that used samples to introduce <br />customers to their products and get valuable feedback.<br />Selik pointed to KeVita, Beyond Meat and Kashi <br />as emerging brands that used samples to introduce <br />customers to their products and get valuable feedback.<br />CNN reports that food brands and grocery stores both took a hit amid the COVID pandemic, as in-store samples were indefinitely scrapped.<br />Both Sam's Club and Costco have also brought back sample programs with added precautions for customer safety and peace of mind.<br />Both Sam's Club and Costco have also brought back sample programs with added precautions for customer safety and peace of mind.<br />Promomash's Selik suggests that the presence of in-store <br />samples is headed back towards pre-pandemic levels, <br />with the return expected to ramp up in 2023. .<br />Promomash's Selik suggests that the presence of in-store <br />samples is headed back towards pre-pandemic levels, <br />with the return expected to ramp up in 2023.
