Costco gets rid of fan favorite store item as prices get too high - but it could come back

A fan favorite Costco item is on the outs, and shoppers aren't happy .

The wholesaler has reportedly discontinued its Kirkland Signature chocolate chips. The company is replacing them with Nestle brand chocolate chips instead.

On Reddit, shoppers are upset, as the brand’s chocolate chips are their favorites. They declared the Kirkland brand not only has the best flavor, but the chocolate chips are dairy free, coconut free and kosher.

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A user said: “They are seriously the best chocolate chip ever. I use them for chocolate fondue, chocolate pudding, brownies, cc cookies, drinking chocolate. Anything chocolate—it’s my only go to! Nothing else compares and I tried to find something as good when they discontinued them a few years back.”

An email about the decision from Costco officials was leaked online. It cites the rising cost of cocoa as the culprit for the discontinuation.

“Yes, we have made the decision to discontinue the Kirkland Signature Chocolate Chips across the company due to the rising costs of cocoa,” the email read.

It said there was a 200% increase in cocoa costs since the year before, and it’s impacting all chocolate items. If they were to stock Kirkland chocolate chips, they would have to be priced at $16.99.

That’s higher than other retailers, which stock Nestle Toll House for $15.48. Costco has therefore made an agreement with Nestle Toll House to supply their chocolate chips for a discounted rate of $13.99, still ensuring Costco shoppers save money.

In the Reddit replies, people voiced their frustrations, saying they’d rather pay more for the better tasting chocolate chips.

One wrote: “The Nestle chocolate chips have a much longer ingredient list. I'd rather pay more for a better product and will probably find an alternative to Costco.”

There is hope for the chocolate chip fans, as the long term plan is to reinstate the Kirkland Signature variety. The email said Costco will likely keep their own brand’s chocolate chips out of stores for at least 12 months, and then bring them back again in the future.