Nine Products Trader Joe’s Customers Can’t Live Without

Trader Joe’s recently broadcast its 12th Annual Customer Choice Awards Winners via its podcast, episode 33. The awards featured many return favorites, such as Mandarin Orange Chicken and Unexpected Cheddar, as well as some new products Trader Joe’s shoppers line up to buy.

Each year, the Monrovia, Calif.-based retailer invites customers to pick their top products in a variety of categories, as well as their No. 1 product overall. Shoppers can communicate picks via email or Instagram. For a look at last year’s winners, click here.

This year’s winner in the Favorite Beverage category is Sparkling Black Tea with Peach Juice. The product, which debuted in 2020, was so well received it was “an instant customer favorite,” said Matt Sloan of the Trader Joe’s marketing team.

The Customer Choice Award for Favorite Home, Bath and Beauty Product goes to Trader Joe’s Scented Candle. This item is available in a variety of scents, including Grapefruit and Cedar Balsam. While Trader Joe’s said its Cedar Balsam received the most votes, Honeycrisp Apple came in at No. 2.

In the cheese category, longtime favorite Unexpected Cheddar took top honors once again.

Receiving 10 times as many votes as the second highest vote recipient in the entree category, Mandarin Orange Chicken was once again triumphant, said Trader Joe’s marketing team.

Trader Joe’s Customer Choice Awards for Produce went to Teeny Tiny Avocados. “So conveniently sized,” said Sloan. “Literally handy,” added Trader Joe’s Tara Miller.

Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups reprised its role as a shopper favorite in the desserts and sweets category.

Customers also showed their love for peanut butter in the snack category, where Peanut Butter Pretzels seized the No. 1 spot.

This year’s winner was Soy Chorizo, which the marketing team said bakes a great burrito with the addition of roasted potatoes, bell peppers, onions and carrots.

For years, customers all-around favorite Trader Joe’s product was the Mandarin Orange Chicken, but last year its throne was usurped by Everything But The Bagel Seasoning. This year, however, the popular frozen chicken entree that Trader Joe’s calls “the sweet and savory sovereign of the freezer case” took back its title.