There’s a reason shopping at Costco is often compared to going on a treasure hunt. As you roam the aisles of those massive stores, you’re never quite sure what you’re going to find.
You may spot a new bakery item that screams “delicious,” or a new type of beverage you find refreshing. Or, you may be tempted to buy something totally random, whether it’s an inflatable backyard hot tub, a new massage chair for your living room, or a fun-looking kitchen tool you don’t really need, but kind of just want.
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Costco purposely makes a point to keep its inventory fresh and interesting because it wants members to be excited to shop at its stores.
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Let’s face it — going to Costco for milk, eggs, and toilet paper isn’t exciting. It’s fun to save money on items like those, but where’s the thrill?
By adding new products all the time, Costco turns an otherwise boring experience into an enjoyable one.
Costco brings back discontinued member favorite.
Costco inventory changes are hard on members
While Costco definitely makes an effort to keep its inventory exciting, there’s a major downside.
To make room for new products on the shelves, Costco has to pull existing items from its lineup. And sometimes, that means having to say goodbye to a product you love and buy on a regular basis.
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Last year, Costco did away with its famous giant bakery muffins. Granted, it replaced them with a smaller version in different flavors. But to this day, many members still miss the original muffins in their glorious oversized form.
Meanwhile, earlier this year, Costco made the decision to stop offering its Kirkland Signature soy milk.
Many members were devastated to see that soy milk disappear, especially since it was an affordable way to stock up on a dairy alternative.
Costco brings back a favorite member snack
Another product Costco pulled from its lineup earlier this year was its Sweet Heat snack mix. It featured a delicious blend of spiced cashews, barbecue almonds, honey roasted sesame sticks, glazed pecans, and corn nuggets.
When you see a product called “Sweet Heat,” you may be inclined to question the “heat” aspect initially. But this amazing creation from Costco delivered on its name. It was truly the perfect blend of sweetness with just enough heat to make you take it slow as you worked your way through the bag.
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Costco fans were disappointed to see the Sweet Heat snack mix disappear. Some even took to Reddit to call it out as their favorite Costco snack ever.
If you were bummed beyond belief to see Sweet Heat go away, here’s some good news. Sweet Heat has recently been spotted on Costco’s shelves again.
However, this doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to find it.
If you go to Costco.com, you’ll see that Sweet Heat is out of stock for delivery, which means that its reintroduction may be limited to certain stores or regions.
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That said, there was a time when Sweet Heat was unavailable on Costco.com, period — meaning you couldn’t even be directed to buy it at a store. So it may be that Costco is bringing it back slowly.
Either way, this is a win for Sweet Heat fans who have been struggling to find a worthy replacement snack since its disappearance.
Maurie Backman owns shares of Costco.
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