The Discontinued Trader Joe's Chips We're Probably Never Getting Back

If you're a fan of salty, sugary snacks, you may have already learned to enjoy Trader Joe's Honey Butter Potato Chips, which combined the creaminess of butter with the sweetness of honey and the saltiness of potato chips. Though they have since joined the ranks of discontinued Trader Joe's products, fans of the crunchy snack are still petitioning the grocery chain to bring it back.

Sadly, the Honey Butter Potato chips variety isn't the only product removed from Trader Joe's shelves. Consider the TJ's Patio Chips, which disappeared after a fire at Trader Joe's Canadian production facility so disrupted the chip-making process that Trader Joe's gave up on the snack entirely. Whether or not these chips will once again grace the shelves of your local Trader Joe's is unknown, as company leaders have expressed the hope of rebuilding. 

Unfortunately, even though they don't seem to have been involved in a fire, it seems that the Honey Butter Potato Chips aren't set to make a return anytime soon. While we don't have a clear answer as to why the Honey Butter chips in particular went goodbye, we do have some good guesses.

Trader Joe's prides itself on offering quality foods at low prices, but it has its limits. If an item becomes too costly to produce, the company is faced with a choice: raise the price or pull the product. If a price increase is deemed too much for shoppers, TJ's may stop selling the item. Sometimes, however, an excess of popularity can be part of the discontinuation decision for Trader Joe's. Basically, if demand overwhelms supply, the item may be temporarily pulled until the supplier can make more. 

Sometimes, the chain just needs to make room. Unlike many other grocers, Trader Joe's keeps a fairly limited supply of products in stores. Seasonality and regional preferences can also influence whether or not a product remains on shelves.

So, will those much-loved Honey Butter chips make a return to Trader Joe's stores? One never knows, but you may be better off looking for a dupe instead of holding your breath. Still, there's a chance. If you want to see your favorites make a comeback, visit the store's website and provide feedback on its discontinued product page.