Trader Joe’s pumps out pumpkin products for fall
In Trader Joe’s latest podcast, the hosts declared that the retailer is introducing close to 75 pumpkin products this year — including a Pumpkin Alfredo Sauce, Pumpkin Oat Beverage, Pumpkin Spice Espresso Beans and more.
The retailer touted “fall finds” in episode 39 of its podcast, featuring podcasters Tara Miller and Matt Sloan, and the season is heavy into pumpkin and fall produce. The previous episode detailed summer snacks.
Some of the featured pumpkin products in the podcast include Pumpkin Spice Espresso Beans, which the retailer also featured on its website. The product is a snack, taking whole, 100% Arabica coffee beans from Brazil and coating them with sweet white chocolate, pumpkin powder and aromatic pumpkin pie spices. The innovative snack also carries annatto and turmeric spices to give it a candy coating and a fitting seasonal color. The product comes in a 2.5 ounce bag.
The podcast said the product was inspired by its Pumpkin Spice Coffee product and the bag of beans contain a little more caffeine than a single cup of coffee.
Other products featured during the podcast are Spiced Pumpkin Madeleine Cookies, a classic cookie with pumpkin spice flavoring, that pairs well with a repeat seasonal Maple Espresso Black Tea Blend.
Pumpkin Oat Beverage is brand-new, a pumpkin-flavored oat beverage in the dairy-alternative category that is vegan and gluten-free, and Pumpkin Alfredo Sauce is a new addition to the lineup. The podcast said twists on its alfredo sauce have been popular, such as an Alfredo Limone in spring.
The pumpkin sauce is produced by a supplier out of Italy, and a member of the product team said on the podcast that the company tried around 25 versions before getting the flavors right. The podcast said working with a tasting panel evolved the sauce from more spicy into savory, featuring more cheese and pumpkin forward flavors as opposed to pumpkin spice, using spices like sage and black pepper, rather than cinnamon and nutmeg.
In alcohol, the retailer introduced a Pumpkin Spice Seltzer Water, but also going beyond the pumpkin products, it has added a Trader Joe’s 2020 Platinum Reserve Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. The podcast said it is a limited release of only around 10,000 cases.
Other new seasonal products highlighted via podcast: Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese Bites, a new Kintamani Coffee blend, Mini Maple Walnut Biscotti cookies to go with the coffee, and there are more. Listen to the podcast here.
Trader Joe's also listed a huge compilation of seasonal pumpkin-inspired products online, running the gamut from a return to its pumpkin-flavored beer to pumpkin-flavored dog treats to a range of snacks and frozen meals.