COSTCO members were left heavily disappointed after the warehouse club axed a popular food court item.
Previously available at just five US Costco locations, the $1.25 french fries were a food court staple among the limited shoppers who could get their hands on them.
3
Costco shoppers have reminisced about a popular food court item onlineCredit: Getty
3
Many Costco shoppers were disappointed when the chain axed its $1.25 french fries from the food courtCredit: Reddit/allwxllendswxll
Costco’s food court is widely considered a “loss leader,” intentionally foregoing a small profit on beloved food products to draw in shoppers and encourage them to spend money on bigger ticket items.
Among the retailer’s popular offerings are its iconic $1.50 hot dog and drink combo, $2 slice of pizza, and $2.49 ice cream sundae.
Other affordable and tasty options, such as the $1.25 french fries, however, have only been sold at select Costco locations.
The restaurant-style fries are often offered at Canadian Costco locations, as a standalone item and a base for poutine, along with a handful of US locations.
Warehouses in the following East Coast locations have been known to sell french fries, according to customer reports on Reddit:
Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania Sterling, VirginiaSpringfield, VirginiaNewington, VirginiaBridgewater, New Jersey
However, shoppers have noticed that the fan-favorite item has been disappearing from Costco food court menus.
“My local Costco used to sell the best fries I’ve ever had and stopped…” began a disappointed member in a post to the Costco subreddit this week, adding that they would get two to four orders of the fries each time they shopped.
“To this day I’ve still never had fries that were better or even as good and it was only $1.25 for A LOT of fries,” said the New Jersey resident.
“They stopped during the pandemic and have never come back. I miss them.”
Costco’s Hot New Dinnerware & Exciting Changes
Other shoppers shared their grief at losing the fried $1.25 snack.
“Everyone in the area knew about those deliciously crispy fries. Such a shame we never got them back. They were so darn good,” mourned one fan.
BYE BYE FRY
As shoppers mourned over the loss of the french fries, others were unaware that Costco sold food court fries in the first place.
“I don’t think I’ve seen fries at Costco and I’ve been to quite a few,” wrote one user, as many others agreed.
“You missed out then,” responded the original user. “But maybe it’s a good thing because you don’t have to deal with the heartbreak of never having them again.”
Shoppers shared their theories on why the company discontinued its beloved food court fries, including a variety of factors.
“My assumption why Costco won’t put fryers into USA locations is a mix between the maintenance to keep the fryers clean, the cost of the oil, cost of installing exhaust hoods, risk of burning employees, separate disposal of used oil, and the time it takes to cook,” wrote one Redditor.
Membership and store cards on offer from major retailers
Here is a breakdown of the store cards on offer to customers from various retailers and their benefits
* If you click a link in this boxout, we may earn affiliate revenue.
Costco:
Gold Star Membership: $65 per year, shop all Costco stores and online with two additional cards for your household.Executive Membership: $130 per year, annual 2% reward, additional discounts and benefits on Costco services, shop online and in-store, and get two additional cards for household use.Sign up for a Costco Membership here
Sam’s Club:
Club Membership: $50 per year, bonus offers, same-day delivery, instant savings, Sam’s Club Mastercard, members-only fuel savings, tire and battery center, complimentary membership, and add-on memberships.Plus Membership: $110 per year, all benefits of Club membership plus Sam’s Cash, free shipping, free curbside pickup, early shopping, and pharmacy and optical savings.Sign up for Sam’s Club Membership here
Target:
Target Circle: A free-to-join reward program allowing users to earn 1% in Target Circle earnings rewards when an eligible purchase is made, access deals and personalized offers, get a birthday gift, and earn a vote to help direct how Target helps out your community.Target Circle Card: A credit, debit, or reloadable account card that gives users 5% off in-store and online as well as exclusive offers, free two-day shipping, and an additional 30-day returns window. Formerly Target RedCard.Sign up for Target Circle here
Walmart:
Walmart+: $12.95 per month or $98 per year with a free 30-day trial. Offers members free delivery, free shipping with no minimum spend, fuel savings, Paramount+ subscription, auto car, Walmart+ travel, returns from home, mobile scan and go in-store, and early access to deals and product releases.Sign up for Walmart+ here
Other members speculated that the item was removed because the fryers were regularly broken, and one employee suggested it was because they interfered with the pizza ovens.
Another Costco shopper theorized that the fries were sold at test locations to see how the product would perform across the US.
They guessed that the product performed poorly, but Costco kept the fries on the menu for some time because the warehouses already had the equipment and staff trained to use it.
“Same thing with locations that had Gelato,” they wrote. “The pandemic was an excuse to cut all non-core things from food courts and make all the ones in the US uniform.”
As Costco shoppers cry over the loss of the food court staple, others are disappointed that a popular member “privilege” just got the ax.
Plus, members are just realizing multiple Costco locations offer an “incredible” service for $7.99.
3
Costco’s beloved food court is known as a loss leader because it draws in customersCredit: AFP