There’s a reason so many people are willing to pay an annual membership fee to shop at Costco.
For one thing, what many people pay for a membership, they make back – and then some – in the form of savings on their essential shopping during the year.
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Remember, Costco members don’t just get access to discounted groceries. They also get perks like low-cost gas and other benefits that can lead to a lot of savings.
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But it’s not just that Costco’s prices are competitive. There are certain products that are exclusive to Costco, so you won’t find them anywhere else.
In fact, Costco’s management team makes a point to keep store inventory fresh and exciting because they recognize that it’s an integral part of the member experience.
If you’ve ever heard someone refer to the “Costco treasure hunt,” they’re talking about the experience of walking through one of those giant stores and being delighted by new items you never knew existed.
Costco adds a new food item members already love.
Image source: Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
Costco’s Kirkland brand produces many store exclusives
Costco has a couple of options for stocking exclusive inventory.
One, of course, is to negotiate exclusive deals with its suppliers. The other is to produce its own array of exclusive items under the Kirkland label.
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Unlike competitors like Target and Walmart, Costco uses a single brand – Kirkland – for all of its self-produced products. For this reason, you might find the Kirkland label on food, but also, clothing, housewares, and other goods.
Costco’s logic is that it wants the Kirkland name to be synonymous with high quality. And the company would rather stick to a single brand with a solid reputation.
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Costco’s bakery is a huge highlight for shoppers. In addition to fresh breads and muffins, the bakery carries an impressive selection of cakes and other indulgent items.
Not only are Costco’s cakes fun to look at, but they tend to get rave reviews from fans.
Sometimes, a cake that looks good on display doesn’t taste so good in reality. But that’s not typically the case with Costco cakes.
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Meanwhile, Costco just introduced a Peaches & Cream Bar Cake that has “summer” written all over it.
It’s made with three layers of vanilla cake filled with whipped cream. But the shining star is the peach jam filling that can be found between each layer. The cake is also topped with a peach glaze and white chocolate shavings.
Costco members have described the cake as “light and fluffy,” which sounds just about perfect for summer.
Best of all, Costco didn’t have to kick another cake out of its lineup to bring this one in.
Often, when Costco adds a bakery item to its rotation, it comes at the expense of another favorite.
Some members had assumed that the Peaches & Cream Bar Cake would replace the strawberry version. But members are reporting on Reddit that they’re seeing both cakes available at their local stores.
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So there you have it. If you head to Costco now, you might get your share of summertime cakes at great prices. But don’t wait on this one, because true to Costco form, it may very well be phased out in time for fall.
Maurie Backman owns shares of Costco.