The Best Trader Joe's Products Of 2024, According To Its Customers
Trader Joe's has always maintained a close relationship with its customers, one that goes well beyond the traditional buyer-seller relationship. In fact, it would be more accurate to call their shoppers fans than customers, with some people making the brand a big part of their identity; one group of fervent Trader Joe's customers even wrote a song about the store.
One reason that Trader Joe's has accrued such a cult-like following is that they emphasize customer interaction. While other major grocery chains have made delivery and self-checkout a big part of their business, Trader Joe's has eschewed both, requiring customers to come into stores and interact with employees. This push to engage with the consumer as much as possible extends to the importance Trader Joe's places on customer feedback. The company conducts an annual survey to determine which products customers enjoy most. The results for the 15th annual Trader Joe's Customer Choice Awards are in, and we've got the highlights.
Trader Joe's freezer section ruled this year's awards (with one exception)
Trader Joe's most popular product overall this year was their Chili & Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips, the company's store-brand take on Taki's. It's the second year in a row that the spicy, tangy snack has topped the competition. But this first-place prize is actually an exception amidst the rest of the field. When it came to the runners-up and more category-specific prizes, Trader Joe's frozen foods proved to be overwhelming favorites.
After the first place Chili & Lime chips, the rest of the top five were all frozen foods. Chicken soup dumplings and pork soup dumplings took second and fourth place respectively with vegetarian kimbap in between. The fifth spot went to their butternut squash mac and cheese. The most popular appetizer was frozen spinach and artichoke dip, the breakfast category was topped by frozen hash browns, and the dessert crown went to their chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches.
The exception to the freezer aisle's dominance was, unsurprisingly, produce, with good old bananas in first place. But outside the produce and beauty aisles, it's clear, that the Trader Joe's frozen food section is obviously a customer — or fan — favorite.