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Trader Joe’s Unveils Customer Choice Award Winners for 2024
Trader Joe’s, the popular grocery store chain, has announced the results of its 16th Annual Customer Choice Awards, revealing shoppers’ most beloved items. After votes were tallied earlier this year, the favored products across numerous categories have been disclosed. Discover the winning groceries, snacks, beverages, and more that earned top honors in this year’s Trader Joe’s customer poll.
Top Pick Overall
For the third consecutive year, Trader Joe’s shoppers have crowned Chili & Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips as the overall favorite product. This popular snack, also recognized as the top snack choice, is lauded as ‘spicy, ire-zest-tible little scrolls crafted from stone ground corn masa.’ Valued at $2.99 a bag, these chips are a consistent hit among customers and readily available at all Trader Joe’s locations.
Other contenders for the coveted top overall product included Steamed Pork & Ginger Soup Dumplings, Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese, Kimbap, and Vegetable Fried Rice.
Best New Item
The award for Favorite New Product goes to Trader Joe’s Cashel-brand Blue Cheese Potato Chips. These limited-edition potato chips quickly gained popularity after their debut on store shelves last year. The product description highlighted the combination of ‘hearty, homey potatoes and creamy, full-flavored cheeses,’ as a delightful savory snack.
Priced at $2.99 per bag, these chips are reportedly no longer available in stores, according to customer updates.
The runners-up in the new product category were French Onion Popcorn, Garlic Gondolas, Strawberry Hold the Cone!, and Crispy Potato & Poblano Pepper Tacos.
Favorite Drink
Trader Joe’s Spiced Cider has once again been recognized as the preferred beverage by shoppers. This seasonal drink, described as a ‘fall-season tradition,’ is priced at $3.99. Having been introduced over two decades ago, this cider remains a customer favorite and is currently available for purchase.
Spiced Cider surpassed French Market Sparkling Lemonade, Sparkling Honeycrisp Apple Juice Beverage, Triple Ginger Brew, and Villa Italia Italian Blood Orange Soda in the beverage category.
Best Cheese
For the second year running, Trader Joe’s goat cheese selections have been awarded the title of best cheese. The range includes Chevre-brand goat cheese, crumbled goat cheese, and sliced Dutch goat’s milk cheese. Many of these cheese options are priced at $2.99 per container and are part of the regular product lineup.
Competing for the top cheese spot were English Farmhouse Cheddar with Caramelized Onions, Syrah Soaked Toscano Cheese Spread & Dip, Burrata, and Saint André Triple Crème Brie.
Top Produce
Trader Joe’s Teeny Tiny Avocados have claimed the top spot in the produce category, succeeding bananas which previously held the title. Trader Joe’s promotes these $4.99 avocados as perfectly sized, eliminating waste from uneaten portions.
Bananas, Honeycrisp Apples, Organic Persian Cucumbers, and Blueberries were named as runners-up in the produce category this year.
Preferred Appetizer
Creamy Spinach & Artichoke Dip has been named the Best Appetizer, repeating its victory from last year. This popular dip is described as a ‘perfect blend’ of artichokes and spinach with Swiss and parmesan cheeses, enhanced with spices. Available for $3.79, it is recommended to be served with crackers, baguette slices, or tortilla chips.
Other appetizers considered for the award were Jalapeńo & Cream Cheese Crispy Wontons, Parmesan Pastry Pups, Greek Spanakopita, and Vegetable Bird’s Nests with Soy Dipping Sauce.
Favorite Breakfast & Brunch Item
Trader Joe’s Heat & Eat Hash Browns have secured the top breakfast or brunch item for the second consecutive year. These pre-cooked, shredded potato hash browns are priced at $2.99 and are a convenient breakfast option.
The runners-up in this category included 4 Chocolate Croissants, 4 Almond Croissants, Dutch Griddle Cakes, and Chicken Sausage Breakfast Patties.
Best Lunch & Dinner Choice
Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice remains the fan-favorite Lunch & Dinner option, maintaining its position from the previous year’s awards. Trader Joe’s highlights the product with ‘#Cookinghacks,’ referencing the origin of butter chicken recipes.
A box of this popular meal is available for $4.99. Competing for the title were Chicken Tikka Masala, Steamed Pork & Ginger Soup Dumplings, Kimbap, and Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese.
Favorite Sweet Treat
Sublime Ice Cream Sandwiches have once again been crowned the top dessert at Trader Joe’s. These treats, featuring chocolate chip cookies sandwiching creamy vanilla ice cream and chocolate chips, are a long-standing favorite. Created following an ‘ice cream epiphany’ at Trader Joe’s, they are presented as superior to other chains’ offerings and are widely available in the freezer section for $4.99.
Close contenders in the dessert category were Almond Kringle, Hold the Cone! Chocolate Chip, Jingle Jangle, and Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds.
Preferred Bath, Body & Home Product
Brazil Nut Body Butter, with a salted-caramel & pistachio scent, has won in the bath, body & home category. This product, exclusively available during the summer, is priced at $5.99.
Runners-up for this award included Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40, Coconut Body Butter, Leave In Conditioner, and Lavender Spray Hand Sanitizer.
Trader Joe’s made headlines last year for increasing banana prices for the first time in over 20 years. The price rose from 19 to 23 cents per banana in March, a 21% increase. Bananas are typically a top-selling item in supermarkets, making this price change noticeable for Trader Joe’s budget-conscious customers.
The 19-cent banana deal was a well-known aspect of Trader Joe’s appeal, with customers voting bananas as their favorite produce item in the annual awards five times, including in 2024, reflecting the brand’s value proposition despite recent adjustments.