Vegan Cookie Butter Wins Trader Joe’s Contest

A vegan product called Speculoos Cookie Butter—which is made from crushed Belgian cookies—was recently named the overall winner of the 2015 Trader Joe’s Customer Choice Awards. In the composite “Meat and Meatless” category, vegan soyrizo beat all varieties of chicken sausage, uncured apple smoked bacon, and traditional carnitas. Customers chose bananas as their favorite produce item (we’re guessing the 19-cent price tag swayed the votes), arugula won the salad category, and the non-alcoholic spiced cider beat out Charles Shaw wines when it came to beverages. The awards are in its seventh year, and the store polls customers about their favorite items in their various departments.