It appears Costco has lowered the bar.
The retailer discontinued a beloved ingredient, and Costco fans and chocolate fans alike are expressing their disappointment.
A Reddit user shared on July 31 that Kirkland Signature chocolate chips had been replaced at their local store by Nestlé.
The photo that accompanied the post showed Nestlé Toll House Semi-Sweet Morsels in 72-ounce bags.
“They completely replaced the chocolate chips with nestle,” the user wrote in the sub-Reddit r/Costco.
The post quickly went viral, with over 500 reactions and 160 comments.
Kirkland’s chocolate chips are currently not available on the Costco website, though they do appear on the Costco Business Center website.
In another Reddit post, a user shared an email they received from Costco explaining the discontinuation and their “long term hope to offer it again.”
“We are unfortunately moving forward with discontinuing the KS Chocolate Chips,” the email began, explaining that the decision was made “due to the rising costs of cocoa.”
The email explained that cocoa costs have risen nearly 200% compared to last year.
“This was a decision we put an extreme amount of consideration into, but the reality is, the cost our suppliers were presenting us, would no longer make our Kirkland Signature Chocolate Chips a value against national brands like Nestle Toll House,” they added.
“It’s likely we will stay out of KS for at least 12 months, but our long term plan is to offer the item again in the future.”
Fans are pretty upset over the change, with one saying that the product is “seriously the best chocolate chip ever.”
“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,” the user added.
“whaaaaaat. I literally just bought these for the first time ever and love them!” another wrote.
“Its a major disappointment to be sure. Its not gone forever but they are superior to nestle in every way,” someone said.
Another explained that the Kirkland brand was the only one to meet all their dietary restrictions: “I liked the Kirkland because there were certified kosher parve. I have a friend allergic to the proteins in dairy, and these were dairy-free. The bonus was zero coconut, which is my weird allergy.”
“Scored 3 bags of Kirkland brand a few weeks before they switched to evil Nestlé. I’m good for 2 years lol,” one quipped.