Trader Joe’s is more than just a grocery store – it’s an experience that its core audience delights in. Store-goers often read their newsletter, the Fearless Flyer, to learn about their most recent product offerings through their trademark witty descriptions and strategize their shopping trips for maximum product accumulation and optimal parking. People just can’t get enough of the grocery store chain, and it inspires an unprecedented amount of brand loyalty among its base.

For the past ten years, Trader Joe’s has released their Customer Choice awards, a report that details which products are most popular based on sales. Many of our employees here at WorkWise are committed Trader Joe’s fans, and they were thrilled to see a few of their favorite items featured as customer favorites. But this got us thinking – what are locals looking for specifically from Trader Joe’s? Overall sales are one thing, but what are people looking for on a state by state basis? We analyzed every item featured on Trader Joe’s 2019 Customer Choice Awards to find out.

We were absolutely shocked that Mandarin Orange Chicken, a Trader Joe’s staple and overall customer choice winner, wasn’t featured in a single state! Our theory is that so many people already know about it that no Google search is necessary. It’s just a weekly addition to the shopping list. On the other hand, Kung Pao Chicken held interest for customers in Delaware, West Virginia, and New Mexico, and while it didn’t win for Customer Choice entree, it was a runner up. New York searched for one of our favorite items, Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, most often, and Wisconsin was true to its roots with the Danish Kringle, a local delicacy, taking the crown for most searched item.

The Sweet Chili sauce took the crown in not one, but not two regions based on search volume. In the South and the Midwest, people are reliant on Trader Joe’s Sweet Chili Sauce to add spice to their lives. The West had a different result. Apparently, they’re skipping dinner and going straight to dessert with Macaron Variés. The Northeast was the happy medium with a tie between Spanakopita, a delightful spinach pie dish and Everything But the Bagel Seasoning, the ultimate condiment.

Condiments seemed to be the biggest interest, according to Google Trends, with the Sweet Chili Sauce and Everything But the Bagel Seasoning reigning supreme as two of the top three searched items overall. Meanwhile, Macarons and Key Lime Pie took second and fourth place, respectively. The US seems to have its priorities straight, focusing for the most part on dessert and seasonings to make everyday items taste better. Nothing makes a green vegetable more appetizing than Everything But the Bagel seasoning.

With such a dedicated group of fans here in our own company, Trader Joe’s is a great example of a company that takes things further than weekly grocery shopping. Whenever we notice a fan base for a particular company, we take the time to look at why customers are so happy with that business. Our CRM and ERP management software goes beyond the technical side of managing business and customers. The purpose is to give our clients the tools to develop their business into a company that relates to customers well enough to anticipate their needs and desires. Looking for more information? Feel free to contact us with any questions here.