Sam’s Club just copied a Costco members’ favorite | Official Website of Louis Velazquez, entrepreneur, finance guy and tech innovator

I’ve been a Costco member for about 20 years. And if there’s one section of the store I have trouble staying away from, it’s the bakery.

Not every Costco bakery item is unique. The chocolate chip cookies, delicious as they may be, aren’t exactly a creative concoction. And while Costco’s croissants happen to be some of my favorites (and you certainly can’t beat the price), let’s face it – there are plenty of places you can buy croissants if you’re willing to spend more money.

But some of Costco’s bakery offerings are true standouts because you can’t find similar items elsewhere.

Take the famous Tuxedo Chocolate Mousse Cake. While it may be almost impossible to get through a slice of it without a gigantic glass of milk, it’s a deliciously indulgent creation some members buy on repeat for special occasions.

Costco’s Caramel Tres Leches bar cake is another fan favorite. It’s not quite as rich as the Tuxedo Chocolate Mousse Cake, but it’s a sweet treat worth showing up to a party with.

Sam’s Club and Costco often copy each other’s popular offerings.

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Sam’s Club’s latest bakery offering mimics a Costco favorite

Another popular Costco bakery item is the Kirkland Signature’s All Butter Pound Cake. The rich, indulgent dessert usually makes an appearance in time for summer, when it can be topped with fresh berries and whipped cream.

Sam’s Club doesn’t want Costco’s bakery to get all the glory, though. It recently introduced a 31-ounce French Vanilla Pound Cake that’s reminiscent of Costco’s version.

So far, the reviews seem very positive. One person called it “one of the best tasting pound cakes” they’d ever had.

Another said, “It’s pleasantly light textured for a pound cake, while the crust is a little firmer but a wonderful bite.”

Not only did Sam’s Club make a strategic move in producing its own pound cake, but since Costco’s version doesn’t seem to be on the shelves yet, Sam’s also managed to beat its biggest competitor to the punch.

Sam’s Club copies Costco often

Although Sam’s Club is successful in its own right, it tends to trail behind Costco in many regards.

Interestingly enough, Sam’s Club actually opened before Costco. The first Sam’s Club store was launched in April 1983. Costco didn’t open until September that same year. But in the world of retail, Costco is commonly regarded as the stronger player.

Sam’s Club would surely love to capture some of Costco’s audience. But Costco shoppers have long been loyal to the store due to the high quality of the Kirkland Signature brand. Sam’s Club’s Member’s Mark brand just doesn’t have the same reputation.

In recent months, Sam’s Club has taken steps to try to better compete with Costco. It introduced a new food court sundae around the holidays to compete with Costco’s recently added salted caramel brownie sundae.

Sam’s Club also increased its store hours after it saw that Costco had success doing so. The company changed its Sunday hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to a schedule of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. while reserving that first extra morning hour for Plus members only (similar to Costco’s early store hours for Executive members).

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Now if this were an elementary school classroom, at this point, Costco would probably pitch a fit and try to get Sam’s Club in trouble for being such a copycat. But because this is Corporate America, there’s not much Costco can do other than continue to step up its game to keep Sam’s Club from stealing members away.

But to be clear, a little healthy competition in the world of retail can be a good thing for consumers. So both Costco and Sam’s Club members stand to benefit from this age-old rivalry.

Maurie Backman owns shares of Costco.