Costco Discontinued a Beloved Kirkland Ingredient—And Fans Are Calling for a Protest

As a Costco member, you always have to be prepared for change. We have to stay strong when limited-time treats leave for the season or trendy snack brands disappear before we even have the chance to give them a try—it’s all part of the wholesale cycle. 

But, nothing quite prepares the Costco community for when beloved staples, the ones we’ve all relied on for years, are ripped from the shelves without warning. It’s a jolt that sends ripples through the fanbase and leaves a significant void in our shopping routine.

One of these devastating blows came this week with the discontinuation of a fan-favorite baking ingredient, and members are already banding together for justice.

Costco Discontinues Kirkland Brand Chocolate Chips

It’s official: the Kirkland Signature Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips have officially been discontinued. Both the red bag and the blue bag (with 51% cocoa) are being replaced with Nestlé Toll House products, and fans aren’t taking the news well.

Costco’s chocolate chips were a favorite for their unbeatable value and high-quality, responsibly sourced ingredients. Shoppers kept them stocked year-round for all sorts of baking projects, saying they have a delicious, mellow flavor and “melt like a dream” in chocolate chip cookies. “They are in our pancakes every weekend,” shared one fan. 

Now, with Nestlé as the only option, customers are sharing their disappointment. “This is the worst news,” said one shopper. “I own an allergy-friendly bakery and the blue Kirkland chocolate chips are what I buy to make cookies because they are dairy-free.” 

Others have voiced their frustration, with some saying they’d “pay $1.50 more to not have anything to do with Nestlé.” One member has even started a reddit thread urging customers to “please protest.”

Why Did Costco Discontinue Kirkland Chocolate Chips?

And so, customers have come together on Reddit to beg for the return of their beloved baking staple. “I called customer service and she said to have as many people as possible leave feedback on Costco.com about bringing the chocolate chips back,” one user wrote. “They tried this several years ago but there was such an outcry that they brought them back.”

But, unfortunately, that might not do the trick this time. According to a brand statement shared on Reddit, the decision to pull the chocolate products came in response to rising cocoa prices. The statement explained that Costco could no longer offer the chocolate chips at a competitive price compared to other national brands. 

“Cocoa costs have risen near 200% compared to last year and this is impacting all items in this category, including branded items such as Nestlé Toll House,” the statement reads. “For perspective, the estimated sell for Q3/Q4 on [Kirkland Signature’s] Red Bag would be $16.99 vs. Nestlé at our competitors at $15.48.”

It sounds like the decision was made after careful consideration, as Costco aims to uphold its commitment to offering “equal or better quality than national brands at a value.”

But, that doesn’t mean this is the end for the Kirkland chocolate chips. According to the excerpt, the long-term plan at Costco is to offer the items again in the future when market conditions allow for “the compelling value proposition members expect from the Kirkland Signature brand.”