At WorkWise, we’re always looking at the strategies people use to effectively engage and delight their customers. While we usually rely on research to get the hard numbers, we...

At WorkWise, we’re always looking at the strategies people use to effectively engage and delight their customers. While we usually rely on research to get the hard numbers, we all have our favorite stores, and we’ve got some huge Trader Joe’s fans on our team!

Last year, our team took a look at the top searched Trader Joe’s item in every state to see what cult favorites their customers were delighting in based on their Google search history. With the release of the 11th annual Trader Joe’s Customer Choice Awards, we wanted to take a look at which products are still inspiring that sought after customer loyalty and which items have taken the throne this year.

Everything But the Bagel Seasoning was, once again, a cult classic for the Trader Joe’s fandom… as it should be! Oregon preferred the new Vegan Kale Cashew and Basil Pesto, and Wisconsin stayed true to its roots and continued to look for the O&H Danish Kringle. Minnesota favored the Mandarin Orange Chicken that’s been a favorite product for years, and Washington is into Moscow Mules if their Triple Ginger Beer searches are any indication.

Last year, the big Trader Joe’s product winner based on search volume was Sweet Chili Sauce, followed by Macaron Varies and Everything But the Bagel Seasoning. There were a lot more frozen entrees and delicious desserts in the mix last time around, but this year, we saw a lot more health-oriented choices in the search volume.

Apparently, people are VERY into Brussel sprouts, avocados, and plantain chips, and those were 3 of the most commonly searched items across the US. Of course, Everything But the Bagel Seasoning has a cult following, plus it’s delicious on veggies, so no surprises that there are still 8 states searching for that product the most. And if you’re going to eat your Brussel sprouts, you definitely deserve a sweet treat afterward- apparently, most people are choosing a Sublime Ice Cream Sandwich for dessert.

Brussel sprouts are dominating the US in terms of search volume. In fact, they were the top searched item in both the Northeast and the West. They tied for first place with Sublime Ice Cream Sandwiches in the Midwest, and the South switched from last year’s favorite, Sweet Chili Sauce, to Everything But the Bagel Seasoning.

This year’s winners show a clear trend towards healthy alternatives and fresh produce… at least according to the search volume! As far as we’re concerned, adding dark chocolate peanut butter cups to your cart along with your Brussel sprouts is just a good balance.

As Trader Joe’s fans ourselves, we know exactly how deep the loyalty for their product offerings goes. It’s a tough process to consistently offer products that delight your customers and buy into the trends of the food industry, but Trader Joe’s consistently manages to do that. Our goal is to help our customers foster the same loyalty in their own customers using our CRM and ERP management software. If you’re wondering how this service can help you reach Trader Joe’s levels of loyalty, contact us here!