COSTCO shoppers were left stunned after the retailer messed with their daily caffeine fix by halting its collaboration with a major brand.
The retailer’s wildly popular private label brand, known as Kirkland Signature, offers members high-quality products at lower prices.
Kirkland products range from groceries and clothing to outdoor and kitchen equipment.
However, the brand that generated $56 billion for Costco in the previous financial year appears to have abandoned its collaboration with Starbucks.
Earlier this year, eagle-eyed Costco members noticed a change in the packaging of Kirkland House Blend Coffee that is seeing some boycott the item completely.
“New packaging for House Blend Beans,” a Costco shopper wrote in the Reddit thread r/Costco.
“Nowhere on the new packaging does it reference being roasted by Starbucks.”
The shopper asked if the flavor was the same as they had yet to finish the last bag of the Starbucks and Kirkland collaboration which they “jumped at the chance for it to change.”
The Redditor shared a photo of the house’s old and new mix items side by side, showing the difference in packaging.
Starbucks’ medium road mix featured the iconic green and gold packaging associated with the coffee giant, as well as the logo on the bottom, “Custom Roasting by Starbucks.”
Meanwhile, the new packaging is green and white, with all Starbucks affiliations removed.
Instead, it reads “Whole Bean Coffee House Blend” with just the Kirkland logo.
While no official comment has been made by Starbucks or Costco regarding the supposed end of their contract, customers have been quick to comment on the change.
“I finally tried my new bag. It’s really sad. I need to find a new option that I won’t get again,” the Redditor said.
“Same here. The new Kirkland medium roast is not good at all,” added another.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do now,” wrote a third.
However, other members are celebrating the alleged end of the collaboration due to the impact it had on the price, with some saying the taste is “basically the same”.
Costco Membership Sharing Guidelines
Costco has strict rules for subscription usage that shoppers must follow and has been cracking down on violators in recent years.
- Core Member Usage: Only the primary cardholder can use this Costco membership card. It is not allowed to share it for purchases, as the photo on the card must correspond to the person using it.
- Domestic Card: Each Prime Member can add one free Household Cardholder who lives at the same address. That person will receive their own membership card and can shop at Costco independently.
- Guest Policy: Members can bring up to two guests per Costco visit. However, only the member can make purchases. Guests must be accompanied by a member.
- Authorized cardholder: For an additional fee, you can add an authorized cardholder, such as a family member or friend, who does not reside at your address. They will receive their own card and will be able to make purchases independently.
Credit: Costco
“I just bought a new bag, it’s considerably cheaper than when it had the Starbucks name on it,” said one shopper on another wire.
“I believe it was $11.99 for the 2.5-pound bag, and if I remember correctly, I was paying $14 or $15.99 with the Starbucks name on it.”
True Starbucks fans can still buy the brand’s French roast coffee and K-Cups in bulk.
The US Sun has reached out to Costco and Starbucks for comment.
Meanwhile, another Costco product will no longer be available year-round, leaving shoppers unhappy.
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