Trader Joe's Unveiled Its New Product Hall of Fame—These 5 Items Made the Cut

Which products will be next?

The start of a new year means sticking to those resolutions, delving into a new crop of books, and, as Trader Joe’s shoppers know, eagerly anticipating the release of the Customer Choice Awards winners. However, according to a recent announcement from Trader Joe’s, there will be a big change to the 2023 list of top products.

The annual Customer Choice Awards, which highlights shoppers’ favorite products from the previous year across several categories, is often loaded with Trader Joe’s staples such as the Mandarin Orange Chicken and Everything But the Bagel Seasoning year after year. So, in an effort to give other items a chance to shine, the TJ’s Powers That Be decided to create the Trader Joe’s Product Hall of Fame.

Per TJ’s, this new honor is a way to give overachieving products “their due recognition,” while making space for other items to have their turn in the spotlight. And since the newly created Product Hall of Fame is permanent, items granted admission—which have all won a Customer Choice Award in their respective categories at least five times—are no longer eligible to be named in the Customer Choice Awards each year.

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So which beloved TJ’s favorites are members of the first class of Product Hall of Fame honorees? Keep reading to find out!

Trader Joe’s Mandarin Orange Chicken

This beloved item was first introduced to Trader Joe’s locations across the country in January 2004. Now, 19 years later, it’s officially being inducted into the Trader Joe’s Product Hall of Fame. Beloved for its ease of preparation, sweet and savory profile, and unbeatable value, this easy-to-make meal has made a clean sweep of the Favorite Overall and Best Entrée categories multiple years in a row.

Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

As Trader Joe’s shoppers who love chocolate have known for years, the Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups are not to be missed. These bite-sized treats burst onto the scene in August 2010, and are now an official member of the Trader Joe’s Product Hall of Fame after taking home top honors in the Best Desserts/Sweets category several years in a row.

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Trader Joe's Peanut Butter-Filled Pretzel Nuggets

If there’s one item that really deserves a spot in the Trader Joe’s Product Hall of Fame, it’s the brand’s Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets, which have been a beloved snack since their debut in 1992. Since each bite is the perfect balance of sweet and salty, and crunchy and smooth, it’s no surprise that these nuggets have swept the Best Snack category for years.

Trader Joe's Unexpected Cheddar

The Trader Joe’s cheese section rivals any neighborhood cheese shop, and even though it’s filled with delicious Bries, Goudas, and more, there’s one cheese that’s just a cut above the rest—Unexpected Cheddar. First introduced in August 2011, this smooth, creamy Cheddar with hints of aged Parmesan really is in a league of its own. And since it’s equally at home on a charcuterie board, in mac and cheese, or stuffed between two slices of buttery bread for an ace grilled cheese sandwich, it’s no surprise that this offering has consistently placed first in the Best Cheese category for several years.

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Trader Joe's Soy Chorizo

While many supermarket chains and food brands are relatively new to the plant-based food game, Trader Joe’s has offered a plethora of vegan products for years. And while the brand’s Vegan Buttery Spread and Vegan Bolognese Style Pasta Sauce are downright delicious, the Soy Chorizo takes the cake when it comes to meat-free offerings. The plant-based product, which debuted alongside Unexpected Cheddar in August 2011, is now a member of the Trader Joe’s Product Hall of Fame after dominating the Best Vegan/Vegetarian category for many years. In fact, TJ’s Soy Chorizo is so tasty that it even has a dedicated following amongst meat eaters too.

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