For years, Trader Joe’s has been a popular food chain business. It offers customers unique and high-quality products that they couldn’t get anywhere. Their products range from delicious snacks and desserts to ready-made meals. Trader Joe’s has long been a go-to for those looking for flavorful as well as healthy food choices. Even on social media, Trader Joe’s fans join forums to share their best finds.
However, not every product is permanent. Many popular items have been discontinued, leading customers to grieve about their favorites. In this article, we learn about the discontinued Trader Joe’s items that customers miss the most.
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Discontinued Trader Joe’s Items
Trader Joe’s offers over 365 new goods per year. It makes each food purchase an adventure. Trader Joe’s fans are no strangers to the despair that comes with the discontinuation of a beloved product. But why is this happening? The reasons are more complicated than you might expect. It is as detailed as an interesting episode of the Inside Trader Joe’s podcast. It was hosted by Matt Sloan, Vice President of Marketing, and Tara Miller, Marketing Director.
Sloan notes that the store’s approach is to keep its selections fresh and interesting. Because of the constant supply of new products, Trader Joe’s must clear space on its shelves by removing existing items.
| Discontinued Trader Joe’s Items |
| Hi-Protein Veggie Burger |
| Smoky BBQ Coconut Aminos |
| Chocolate Chip Sandwich Cookies |
| Honey Butter Potato Chips |
| Banana Waffles |
| Chocolate Joe-Joes |
| Organic Joe’s O’s Pasta |
| Pulled BBQ |
| Island Salsa |
| Brown Rice Avocado Roll |
| Organic Salty Squares |
| Chipotle Bean Dip |
| Chile Lime Mayonnaise |
| Sweet Potato Tortilla Chips |
| Fudge Sauce and Fondue |
| Spicy Cheese Crunchies |
| Vegan Jackfruit Cakes |
| Barbecue Popped Ridge |
Hi-Protein Veggie Burger:
The Hi-Protein Veggie Burger was a favourite among those on plant-based diets. This product is for anyone looking to reduce their meat intake without sacrificing flavour. It is packed with pea protein. So, this burger was a healthy, lightweight meal option that many customers found delightful. Sadly, it has been recently discontinued. Many customers are disappointed due to this product’s unavailability.
Smoky BBQ Coconut Aminos:
Smoky BBQ Coconut Aminos provided a tasty BBQ twist on regular coconut aminos. These amino acids were popular with both health-conscious and BBQ fans. Despite its demand, Trader Joe’s discontinued this product. This had left a space in the market for organic BBQ-flavored sauces.
Chocolate Chip Sandwich Cookies:
Chocolate Chip Sandwich Cookies provide a classic chocolate chip cookie with a delicious fudge centre. This excellent mix served as a nostalgic treat for many. It reminds them of
Childhood food. These cookies were discontinued in 2021. But they are still fondly remembered by people who enjoy their distinct flavour and texture.
Honey Butter Potato Chips:
Fans of sweet and savoury snacks were heartbroken when Trader Joe’s discontinued Honey Butter Potato Chips. This product is made from simple ingredients like honey, butter, and salt. These chips had a unique flavour profile that earned them a 4.7 rating on Amazon. Their absence since 2018 has left many longing for their return.
Banana Waffles:
Banana waffles provided a delicious breakfast option. It combined the flavours of bananas and waffles into one. This product is gluten-free and free of artificial colours and flavours. These frozen waffles were a healthier alternative to many other breakfast options. It has been discontinued since 2009. But they remain a much-missed item among Trader Joe’s regulars.
Chocolate Joe-Joes:
Chocolate Joe-Joes were Trader Joe’s version of a classic chocolate sandwich cookie. It is filled with chocolate cream. These cookies were a nostalgic delight that many customers enjoyed. Despite the fact that they have been discontinued for several years, it is leaving a space for chocolate fans.
Organic Joe’s O’s Pasta:
Organic Joe’s O’s Pasta was a popular canned pasta product. It featured organic O-shaped pasta in a tasty tomato and cheese sauce. This product was popular among those looking for a cosy, organic meal. Sadly, it was discontinued, leaving fans looking for a similar canned pasta alternative.
Pulled BBQ:
Trader Joe’s Pulled BBQ Meats were a convenient and delicious meal option. It came fully cooked in hickory smoke-flavoured BBQ sauce. Whether used in sandwiches or on their own, these pulled meats were a hit with customers. Their discontinuation has left many searching for comparable alternatives elsewhere.
Island Salsa:
Island Salsa combines tropical flavours like mango and pineapple with red jalapeno peppers. This is a unique, sweet, and zesty salsa. This product was popular for its distinctive flavour. But Trader Joe’s decided to discontinue it. So, it had led much to the dismay of salsa lovers.
Red Refresh Herbal Tea:
Red Refresh Herbal Tea offered a caffeine-free blend of hibiscus, wild cherry bark, lemongrass, rosehips, orange peel, and peppermint. This refreshing herbal tea was a favourite among Trader Joe’s shoppers looking for a flavorful and energizing beverage. Its discontinuation has left a gap in Trader Joe’s tea varieties.
Brown Rice Avocado Roll:
The Brown Rice Avocado Roll was a health-conscious sushi option. It combined the benefits of brown rice and fresh avocado. This product was popular among those following plant-based diets. Despite its popularity, it has been discontinued. Thus, it had left customers to seek out other sushi options at Trader Joe’s.
Organic Salty Squares:
Organic Salty Squares were Trader Joe’s variation on classic saltine crackers. It is created from natural ingredients. These crunchy snacks were a popular addition to soups, cheeses, and dips. Their removal from store shelves has left fans without a reliable saltine alternative.
Chipotle Bean Dip:
Chipotle Bean Dip, labelled Trader Jose’s, is a tasty blend of spices and black beans. This dip was popular when served with nachos, tacos, and other foods. Despite its popularity, it was discontinued almost a year ago. Fans are now looking for similar bean dip products.
Chile Lime Mayonnaise:
Chile Lime Mayonnaise is made to give classic mayonnaise a zesty touch. This product is a mixture of concentrated lime juice with powdered ancho and chipotle peppers. Although it had fans, the use of soybean oil and its polarizing taste led to its removal within months of release.
Sweet Potato Tortilla Chips:
Sweet Potato Tortilla Chips were a healthier version of conventional tortilla chips. It is produced from white corn and sweet potatoes. These chips had a distinct flavour and were popular for their lightness and crispiness. Despite their popularity, they were removed from the product list. So, it is leaving sweet potato snack fans looking for fresh alternatives.
Fudge Sauce and Fondue:
Trader Joe’s Fudge Sauce and Fondue was a rich, flavorful dessert sauce that customers adored. Its discontinuation in 2022 caused a significant outcry on social media. From that time on, many fans were hoping for its return. This product remains one of the most-missed dessert items from Trader Joe’s.
Spicy Cheese Crunchies:
Spicy Cheese Crunchies were Trader Joe’s healthier alternative to Cheetos. It is made with cornmeal, baked, gluten-free, and free of artificial dyes and flavours. It was discontinued in 2022. These snacks have left a void for those looking for a healthier, cheese-flavoured snack.
Vegan Jackfruit Cakes:
Vegan jackfruit cakes provide a plant-based alternative to crab cakes. It used jackfruit as a meat substitute. These cakes were popular for their texture and flavour but were discontinued in 2021. Fans of Jackfruit products must now look elsewhere for similar products.
Barbecue Popped Ridges:
Barbecue Popped Ridges were a light, crispy snack made from potatoes, corn, and seasoning. It offers a tangy BBQ flavour. Discontinued in 2021, these snacks were mourned by many fans who appreciated their healthier alternative to traditional BBQ chips.
Trader Joe’s discontinued products in 2024
Trader Joe’s classifies each product based on sales to evaluate its success and long-term viability. When an item fails to fulfil expectations and ranks at the bottom of its category, it is removed from the shelves.
If you’re grieving the loss of a beloved Trader Joe’s item, remember that it could be revived. It is either a seasonal treat or a new and improved version. And, of course, with Trader Joe’s continual creativity, you might just come upon a new favourite on your next grocery visit.
But in a recent podcast, Trader Joe’s stated that some treats were only available until December 31. Then, they are gone for another year. Here are some items that will no longer be available beginning in January 2024.
- Jingle Jangle chocolate holiday mix
- Dark Chocolate Stars cookies
- Taste Test of Caramels
- Gingerbread House Kit
- Candy Cane Peppermint Joe Joe’s sandwich cookies
- Pretzel Bread Pudding with Salted Caramel Sauce
- Shimmering Candy Cane Body Butter
- Apple Crumble Pie
- Belgian Cookie Collection
- Something Spritzy holiday beverage
- Organic Jumbo Cinnamon Rolls
Conclusion
Trader Joe’s seasonal offerings, such as the popular ube-flavored ice cream and pumpkin spice products, are popular. However, they often go out of stock owing to storage or supply chain problems. A Reddit user pointed out that smaller store storage may reduce the season for popular items. Supply disruptions and high production expenses can also have an impact on availability. The discontinued items are rarely returned after 90 days.
Despite these challenges, Trader Joe’s maintains an exciting shopping experience by continually introducing new products. It is always balancing fresh customer preferences and staying transparent in its product business model. Whether the discontinued items will ever return remains to be seen, but their absence continues to be felt by Trader Joe’s fans.