Spinach and Tofu Egg Roll Lovers Unite!

Back in January I reviewed one of my favorite Trader Joe's products for Tuesday's Tasting, Trader Ming's Vegetarian Spinach and Tofu Egg Rolls. Then shortly after I learned that Trader Joe's discontinued the product because of lagging sales. I was devastated, and starting hearing from others that were too.

One of my readers suggested an email campaign in response to my announcement that the egg rolls had been discontinued. I've decided to take it one step further. I am organizing a grassroots campaign to make Trader Joe's aware of the following that Trader Ming's Vegetarian Egg Rolls had while at the same time trying to persuade them to start producing and stocking the egg rolls once again.

I encourage you to join me in this effort. Please visit http://spinachandtofu.blogspot.com and join me in my crusade. Leave a comment there and let me know you've joined, and PLEASE, send a note to Trader Joe's letting them know you love and miss the egg rolls and you'd like to see them brought back to the stores.

In the words of the late President Nixon: "If you take no risks, you will suffer no defeats. But if you take no risks, you win no victories."

Rumor no more...

I wrote to Trader Joe to find out if it's true, have the spinach and tofu egg rolls I love so much really been discontinued. Joe didn't reply, but Kellye did, this is what she had to say:

Hello Scott,

Thank you for contacting us with your request. At this time the Spinach and Tofu Egg Rolls has been discontinued due to slow sales in all our stores. I will forward your comments and request to our Frozen Food Category Leader to bring the product back and that will be taken into future consideration.

At Trader Joe's our mission is to bring you the best quality products at the best prices. To manage our store space well products must meet a certain sales criteria in order to earn its way onto our shelves. If a product does not sell well we this as a vote from our customers that's they would like to see something different.

This product was specifically produced for Trader Joe's and is no longer available. Trader Joe's has currently sold through all existing stock of this product.

Thank you for your inquiry and thank you for shopping at Trader Joe's.

Kellye
Trader Joe's
Customer Relations

So thank you Kellye for your reply. Spinach and Tofu Egg Rolls I will miss you! Please come back soon!

It is a sad, sad day

I received an email a few days ago from someone who I can only guess read my recent posting on Trader Joe's (Trader Ming's) Vegetarian Spinach and Tofu Egg Rolls. The writer informed me that her local Trader Joe's in Massachusetts informed her that they will no longer be carrying the spinach and tofu egg rolls, and that they've sold out of their remaining stock.

Not wanting to believe her, not wanting to believe that one of my favorite items from TJ's freezer case may no longer be available, I had to see for myself. On my way home from work just an hour ago, I stopped into my local Trader Joe's. I went to the freezer case where the spinach and tofu egg rolls are usually chilling out. They were not there. I asked one of the TJ's mates, "I heard a rumor that the spinach and tofu egg rolls have been discontinued, is it true???" I was informed that it's no rumor, the sales were not good and they will no longer be carrying them, AND they have none left.

Oh my. I'm in shock. I've been buying these for at least the last seven years. I only have half a package left in my freezer. This is insane. I'm going to write to Trader Joe right now, this can't be happening!