Costco Just Announced a Major Store Change, and Shoppers Are Conflicted

Ashia Aubourg
Ashia Aubourg
From the moment I started remixing ramen noodles into gourmet meals and spending hours watching cooking shows as a puny six-year-old, I knew I found a deep passion for food. While I realized — after taking on a two-year high school internship in an award-winning kitchen — that a…read more
published Dec 18, 2024
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If Costco is a part of your grocery shopping ritual, you’ll be excited to hear that your next shop will look slightly different. The warehouse store just rolled out a major change to its meat department, and from now on, you’ll start to see a particular fancy type of beef showing up. 

You may have savored a Japanese A5 Wagyu filet mignon for a special anniversary dinner or eaten a hot dog made from it for a luxe cookout. Now, the illustrious beef is available at Costco for purchase so you can grill or sear it at home.

Shoppers cannot wait to try this expensive cut of Wagyu. @Costcohotfinds, a creator who shares the latest product launches at Costco, posted about this new find. One person commented on the clip, “It’s so good! My husband found it!” while another said, “That must taste wonderful.”

Wagyu is a highly sought-after beef because it has a rich and buttery taste. Purebred cows must be genetically connected to one of the four designated breeds: Akage Washu, Kuroge Washu, Mukaku Washu, and Nihon Tankaku Washu to be considered Wagyu. One Wagyu cow can cost nearly $30,000, according to Allen Brothers, a premium meat distributor. 

While a whole Wagyu cow is practically the same price as a brand-new car, luckily, at Costco, you won’t have to pay that much for a slab. TikTok shoppers are reporting that a pack of three rib-eye cuts costs $59.99 per pound. But if you order it online, a sampler pack of three Waygu cuts, including rib eye, NY strip, and filet mignon, is priced at $369.99 for over 2 pounds of beef.

Costco reportedly decided to offer more high-end ingredients like Wagyu beef because the warehouse store noticed a trend of its shoppers spending more time cooking in the kitchen, Roland Vachris, the CEO of Costco, said in an earnings call. “Where we have high-quality premium cuts, they’re selling well,” Vachris said. 

With New Year’s Eve approaching, this Waygu from Costco could serve as your main course if you prefer to dine at home. It could be incredibly delicious paired with side dishes like cheesy Dauphinoise potatoes, sweet maple bacon Brussels sprouts, and a Caesar salad with garlic butter breadcrumbs.