Every year, Trader Joe’s invites its customers to vote for their favorite products from the previous year, and the 2023 winners (announced in early 2024) are now official.
The fifteenth edition of the Trader Joe’s Annual Customer Choice Awards showcased a blend of both beloved classics and new favorites. During the announcement on the Inside Trader Joe’s podcast, hosts Matt Sloan, Director of Customer Relations Communications, and Tara Miller, Vice President of Marketing, highlighted the introduction of new award categories. This innovation allows Trader Joe’s to recognize a diverse array of items, preventing the same well-loved products from dominating the awards repeatedly. Miller pointed out, “Very few of our listeners will have tried all of these favorite products.”
It’s worth noting that the Trader Joe’s Product Hall of Fame inductees, such as Mandarin Orange Chicken and Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, are no longer eligible for Customer Choice Awards. This year, the awards structure was streamlined, featuring ten categories, including some new additions.
Best Snack: Chili & Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips
For the second consecutive year, the Chili & Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips claimed the top spot in the snack category. These zesty chips, praised for consistently delivering on flavor and freshness, outshone competitors like Ghost Pepper Potato Chips. The Organic Elote Corn Chip Dippers secured the runner-up position.
Best Cheese: Goat Cheese
With the iconic Unexpected Cheddar now part of the Product Hall of Fame, goat cheese emerged as the winner in this category, receiving a substantial number of votes. Trader Joe’s offers various goat cheese options, and Miller attributes their popularity to the incredible prices.
Best Produce: Bananas
While Trader Joe’s isn’t typically known for its produce, the budget-friendly bananas at just 19 cents each took the lead. Runners-up included Teeny Tiny Avocados, Honeycrisp apples, Persian cucumbers, and the Lemony Arugula Basil Salad Kit.
Best Beverage: Apple Cider
In a category with various iterations at Trader Joe’s, Apple Cider emerged victorious. Notable mentions include Sparkling Apple Cider and Sparkling Honeycrisp Apple Juice, last year’s winner.
Best Breakfast and Brunch Item: Hashbrowns
TJ’s Hashbrowns, a breakfast or brunch delight, secured the top position with nearly three times the votes of the runner-up. Their popularity often leads to supply shortages in many stores.
Best Lunch and Dinner Item: Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice
For the second year running, the Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice frozen meal claimed the top spot, praised for its mouth-watering curry made with quality ingredients.
Best Appetizer: Creamy Spinach & Artichoke Dip
Taking the lead by a significant margin, the Creamy Spinach & Artichoke Dip stood out among frozen finds. Apart from being a dip, many shoppers use it as a decadent pasta sauce.
Best Sweet Treat: Sublime Ice Cream Sandwiches
Dethroning the Hold the Cone! Mini Ice Cream Cones, the Sublime Ice Cream Sandwiches won hearts with their chocolate chip-studded vanilla ice cream between chewy chocolate chip cookies.
Best Bath, Body, and Home Item: Brazil Nut Body Butter
Packaged in a vibrant pink tub, the Brazil Nut Body Butter, a mega-moisturizer, boasts ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, açai extract, guarana extract, and Brazil nut seed butter, leaving skin thoroughly hydrated and nourished.
