Sunday, December 30, 2012

Kroger Candied Dill Spears

Kroger Candied Dill Spears
Aren't the holidays fun!?  Its a time when you get to sample everyone's latest recipes, family favorites and the little treasures you find at the grocer.  This year, pickle fans, was a pickle at the center of attention!  Gretchen was responsible for putting together a relish tray and went to Kroger to stock up, and while the standard sweet gherkins, green and black olives, bread 'n' butter sweets made it to the tray, everyone was surprised by the Candied Dill Spears in the tray.

Wait-wait-wait!!  Candied Dill ??  Yepper, you read right. To come right to the point, in place of the clove flavor we're all used to in normal sweet gherkins, or the bread'n'butter flavor, they used dill instead.  Its an unexpected little zing at the end of your bite.  The pickles are thoroughly infused with the sweet syrup, as other sweets are, but the dill flavor combined with the sweet'n'briney flavor is definitely unique.  The crunch is fantastic, and very much reminds me of my grandparents' 14-day sweet pickles.  I suspect they've gone through a few cycles of alum to get that crunch.

These are definitely yummy little treasures, but they're to be savored one at a time--I don't think anyone will be pounding through a jar of these in short order.  They're totally unlike any pickle I've had before, and I'd highly recommend picking up a jar.

54 comments:

  1. Secklers, an Indiana based company, makes a wonderfully crisp sweet dill pickle, along with lemon, orange, and apple flavored pickles. They also have a jalapeno sweet relish with a perfect sweet heat. These can be hard to find, but well worth the hunt.

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  2. Do you have a stock number for the Kroger Brand Candied Dills? I have been looking for them in every Kroger store and can no longer find them.

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    1. Believe they are being discontinued...I, too, have searched for these. UPC code is 1111084026, Am totally disquested with Kroger/Dillons over this. Hsve bought these for at least 40 years.

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    2. I agree! Has anyone been able to find any?

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    3. Can't find them at any Kroger in Memphis either. Will try requesting from my store since someone thought enough requests might bring the pickles back!

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    4. They have been discontinued. I called every kroger within 150 miles. They can't get them anymore. So sad !!!!!!

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    5. told that the were discontinued at the Krogers here in Owenboro,Ky.Our family has used this product for over 50 years.WTH?

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    6. I want cry best pickles ever only one good for deviled eggs

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  3. Where can you buy Kroger Candied pickle spears? We just had some from a jar at a funeral in MN? No luck searching for them on line.

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  4. My Kroger closed them out also in McDonough, GA. Sure wish they would bring them back.

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  5. I've been savoring the last five jars on the shelf. Guess I'm gonna have to start making my own.

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  6. I have been looking for these as well. We go through a jar every few weeks. I have always stocked up for fear this day would come. Been eating these for over 50 years in Ohio, Kansas and now 19 years in Texas. Very disappointed in Kroger.

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  7. Kroger's in Ohio won't tell me where they got these delicious dill spears. I want to buy them bulk from the producer since Kroger discontinued them, but Kroger will not tell me where they bought them.

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  8. If Kroger cant make an enormous profit on a product, they close it out, They aren't in th business of trying to satisfy, they are in business to make as much money as possible

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  9. I wonder if Kroger prohibits the candid dill spear producer from selling their product under a different brand.

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  10. I called and spoke with a representative at KROGER. She said more people to call and request that they bring back this pickle, only way they will do that is with a lot of requests!

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  11. Kroger definitely discontinued the Candied Dill strips. CLUELESS I TELL YA!! These things sold like crazy @ our Kroger's (I'm in a suburb of Houston, TX). Have found the next best thing, but they are only sold online in boxes of 6 jars. Best price is on the Walmart website (Free shipping) & Walmart does not carry in stores (go figure). Mfg. & name of pickles is "Sechler's Candied Sweet Dill Strips". Walmart sells several different types of Sechler's pickles on their website. The Sechler's Candied Mixed Pickles also sound delish & I plan to order a box of those to try out also. Good Luck!

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  12. The Kroger's in Laurel, MS has also discontinued the Kroger brand Candied Dill Strips. They carry an untold number brands of Sweet, Dill, Kosher, Gherkin, etc., but this was the only one of this type. They never carried enough of them and always sold out requiring two to four trips to the store in hopes that they were back on the shelf. If they don't sell the pickle I love there's really no need for me to shop at Kroger's, because other local stores sell pretty much the same as they do except the Kroger Brand Dill Pickle Strips. I've talked to the store employees about this and they were kind and courteous, but their answer was they've been discontinued.

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  13. I'm sooo upset that these Kroger candied dill strips are gone. They are my favorite pickle and everyone loves my potato salad because I put these pickles in it. I have bought them my whole life. PLEASE bring them back Kroger!!

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    1. Same here . You can order them from Sechlers pickles , they make ten . Like $36 bucks for 6 16 oz jars

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  14. I stopped at every Krogers Store in Peoria, Illinois to see if they have the CANDIED DILL STRIPS and they don't. WHY? They taste just like what my Grandmother used to can. SO GOOD. Please Krogers bring them back. I just love them. Everything taste so good when I use them in recipes.

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  15. We've been looking for them, too! Checked both Krogers in our area! Crazy

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  16. Sechler's Candied Dill Pickles are divine. You can find them at Wal-Mart or some specialty meat markets. I use them in my potato salad instead of relish and EVERYONE is always asking about the sudden burst of sweetness. Ots my secret ingredient. I highly recommend.

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  17. Now I know why I can not find them. THANKS A LOT KROGER

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  18. Most people think I'm crazy, but I use candied dills to make peanut butter, pickle and mayo sandwich. Been eating them for 65 years. Yum. Give it a try.

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  19. I filled out the survey on the end of my Kroger receipt and told them how disappointed I am they discontinued Candied Dill Strips and I also Tweeted to Kroger telling them the same. They responded saying that they would share my request to bring them back with their Corporate Food Technologist. Ya'll try these methods too! My potato salad will never taste the same again and my sandwiches either!

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  20. I too am upset Kroger's has discontinued the Candied Dill Strips. My potato salad recipe handed down from my grandmother is not the same without them. #sadinohio

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  21. Well we had them up unto a few months ago and now Boom they no longer have then at Krogers in Clarksville...WTF I NEED THEE I USED THEM IN EVERYTHING!!! Jennifer Aladesipe

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  22. They no longer carry them in the Mississippi Delta either so I've checked every Kroger that I pass - Memphis, Oxford, Cleveland, Clarksdale, Southaven - with no luck.

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  23. My wife & I got turned on to the Sechler's brand of the candied dills decades ago when Kroger carried them and then we switched over to the Kroger brand when they came out. Now we can't get either one at Kroger and we are steamed. Like other posters here, it just doesn't make sense. You could tell it was a good seller by the shelf space and the limited jars available each visit. We've asked countless managers with no response. As good a grocer as Kroger seems to be, it's amazing how little wisdom they sometimes have on their products.

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    1. their website is http://sechlerspickles.com/pages/store.html

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  24. These were originally sold at the Tom Thumb grocery chain, then Kroger picked them up, however, these pickles were/are produced by the same company as a "private label" product by both Tom Thumb and Kroger. These were most likely produced by Sechler's Pickles Inc., for both grocery store chain under a special private label agreement.

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    1. In the 1980's I first bought them at Tom Thumb but they had a Vlasic label on them. I have ordered them on-line recently from Amazon. But, I too think they are not as crunchy as Kroger's brand.

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  25. I'm so depressed that my "magic ingredient" for my deviled eggs, potato salad, ham salad , etc.....is no longer available. Candied dill strips are no longer available. I have bought Sechler's but I did not think they were as crunchy as Kroger brand. What can we do to get Kroger to stock them again. We have used them for 3 generations.......

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  26. Interestingly enough, I only shopped at Kroger for these pickles. I am surrounded by other grocery stores that DO NOT stock candied dill strips. What a shame! Kroger is going to lose a lot of customers, due to this unique product that only they carried.

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  27. Vlasic used to make them and they were way, way better than the Kroger brand. Start a big writing campaign to get Vlasic to make the Candied Dill Stix again.

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  28. I bought them years ago under the brand name Paramount. Later, I got the Kroger brand as it was the only one available. I have checked about purchasing the Sechler brand, but I really don't want to pay $12.99 a jar. I have complained to Kroger and I was told that there have been many complaints. However, nothing has been done.

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    Replies
    1. Shipping is almost as much at the pickles.

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  29. Discontinued in Cincinnati, also. What a bummer. My potato salad and sandwiches will not be the same. Kroger says "sorry.....". Me too.

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  30. I have used the Kroger Candied Dills for years and it looks like I'm not alone. Since I wasn't able to find them at Kroger, I settled for the Sechler brand but they are not the same and my famous potato salad does not taste as good. KROGER.....please bring these pickles back if you care!!!!

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  31. I am also sick about Kroger not carrying the candied dill strips anymore.I live in Spring Tx. and I cannot find them anywhere. What a shame. I have been eating these for yrs. because they are my favorite pickle ever. PLEASE Kroger bring them back!!!!!!

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  32. My Mother is 87 and has used the candied dill pickles for years and years. We are so disappointed in Kroger....no, we are furious with Kroger for discontinuing these pickles. Does Kroger care we are all upset? Nooooooooooo!

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    1. I also bought them when they were Paramount and then Kroger but can't find then any more no place, what a bummer. J.Paulley Ky. Paramount used to be here but moved?

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  33. I agree...SHAME on you Kroger for discontinuing this pickle. For many of us it is a family tradition we have used and loved for years. Please, please reconsider!!!

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  34. Disappointed in Los Angeles, Columbus OH and Dayton OH. I have been looking for these for a few years while living in three cities. I found similar candid dill spears from Sechler's and now order them from Walmart.com at about $4.31 per 16 ounce jar. I emailed Kroger executive and personally requested these at several stores, but Kroger seems to be disregarding customer preferred products; so I started shopping at other grocery stores and am now including Walmart.com for grocery shopping.

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  35. We live in San Antonio, Texas now and don't have any Kroger's around, so whenever we would go to Little Rock, AR our hometown we would be sure to pick up a jar or two to bring back to Texas. We couldn't find any on the shelves at Christmas and now I see this website confirming my fear. They don't make them anymore! This was something we had every holiday growing up. So sad.

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  36. Benn used in family potato salad and deviled eggs for over 50 years. They could not have been a non-seller from all the comments. I don't know if Kroger bought Paramount out because the jars were identical except for brand name but someone should want to put these pickles back out if Kroger is too sorry to. I would love to know what management at the top would say why they did this. I am seriously thinking about boycotting ever shopping at Kroger's again because of this

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  37. I sure loved and miss them! When I lived in La. I drove to Kroger in McComb Ms and bought all they had. Now I live in ms.... no pickles!!!

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  38. Just finished the last two and tossed the jar. Kroger in SE Michigan no longer carries either brand.

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  39. I have not made tuna salad, egg salad, chicken salad, potato salad or deviled egss since Kroger's stopped selling Candied Dill Strips. NOTHING is the worth making without them. I'm 77 and have been eating them since my mom used them in her recipes when I was growing up. I'm so upset with Kroger's that I stopped shopping there!

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  40. Well, now I know why I can’t find Kroger Candied Dills! This is just terrible!

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  41. Sechlers has a pickle that is just as good as the ones Kroger used to carry. Go to their website and I promise you won’t be disappointed with their product. Kroger has show over the last few years that they care nothing about customer loyalty. Try these pickles from Sechler’s and I’m sure you will become a regular customer like I did.

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  42. For generations, my family has used candied dill stix as our secret ingredient in deviled eggs and potato salad, too! I'm glad for the comradery. P L E A S E Kroger! At least let us buy them online!

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  43. After reading about all the folks like me who love these pickles I did some research and found that Sechler's Fine Pickles of Indiana actually made them for Kroger's, and you can Google them and order on line or via phone and voila! I just had a dozen jars delivered to my door. A little more expensive than Kroger's, but then Kroger's doesn't have these gems.

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