The Discontinued Trader Joe's Soup We're Never Getting Back
Trader Joe's is well-known for loading its shelves with unique merchandise you can't get anywhere else, which makes it all that more disappointing when it halts production of a fan favorite. Unfortunately, TJ's is no stranger to discontinuing some of its most popular products. One commodity that once warmed the stomachs of loyal neighborhood market patrons through the colder months of the year was its Butternut Squash Soup. The creamy comfort soup had a long run, but by 2023, many customers realized that it was nowhere in sight. Like most of Trader Joe's discontinued products not likely to return when they are gone, they are usually gone for good, leaving customers with few options that satisfy as substitutes.
The reason why Trader Joe's discontinues various items is simple, though it comes as little consolation to those bemoaning the fact that their favorite is no longer available. Like any other business, if a product has low sales volume, it is taking up valuable space on the shelves that could be otherwise given to something that sells better. However, TJ's makes every attempt to please its patrons, and although Butternut Squash Soup might not be on the menu anymore, the grocer did add another soup to its lineup that may console some dejected fans.
Trader Joe's stocks a similar alternative soup
While Trader Joe's Butternut Squash Soup now resides in the graveyard of other products the store has discontinued over the years, it does carry a similar alternative that gets some folks excited. Pumpkin Butternut Squash Bisque takes all the sweet and savory elements of the original and adds a pumpkin twist along with browned butter and sage. One could argue that the addition of pumpkin to the mix elevates this soup to heights the original could only dream of reaching.
For those who don't want to find any alternative concoctions to get them through soup season, there is one action you can take that might just bear some fruit. On the Trader Joe's website, customers can voice their concerns over items disappearing from the store. Similar to how you can sometimes get discontinued Aldi products back on the shelves, TJ's is open to bringing back certain commodities if there is enough interest. However, considering products are typically discontinued because of unimpressive sales numbers, the unfortunate reality is that, although you may have personally thought Butternut Squash Soup was the bee's knees, others clearly weren't so enthusiastic. It never hurts to try, but accepting it's gone and finding your new favorite might be more productive.