Costco Is Making a Major Change, and Customers Are Devastated

There’s some sad news spreading among the Costco community. Despite it being the one snack members swear by, or how it’s the best bulk buy at Costco, it seems the discount wholesale retailer has decided to discontinue the bags of Kirkland Signature Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips.

The news of the soon to be disappearance was whispered a few weeks ago among Costco shoppers when they saw the “Death Star” on the price tag for these bags of chocolate chips in stores. The “Death Star” is when the price tag has a small asterisk in the corner of the tag to let shoppers know that this item is about to be discontinued. So stock up now before it’s gone for good.

Shoppers are on Reddit to express their sadness regarding the disappearance of Kirkland Signature Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips. Costco responded to these complaints with a message to shoppers, confirming that they are in fact discontinuing this sweet product. This includes the Kirkland Signature Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (the red bag) and the Kirkland Signature Semi-Sweet 51% Chocolate Chips (the blue bag). The reasoning is due to the cost of cocoa, which has risen nearly 200% in costs compared with last year, making it even more expensive to produce chocolate.

Instead, Costco is replacing its chocolate chips with bags of Nestle instead, which costs less to buy in bulk compared with producing and selling the Kirkland Signature variety as of now. By making this switch, Costco shoppers continue to get the best price on the market.

“Chocolate is having a current shortage,” one shopper points out. “Noticed some chocolate stuff is no longer available at my local store that was previously available.”

While shoppers are expressing how bummed they are, many are also voicing how they are content with how thorough Costco has been with its reasoning and communication about this change, and caring about providing shoppers with the lowest prices possible on everyday food items.

Hopefully when prices on cocoa decrease, Costco will bring back what customers proudly call “the best chocolate chips ever.”