The Discontinued Baking Staple Costco Fans May Never Get Back

With the holiday season right around the corner, many are stocking up on baking essentials to get them through the winter. However, regular Costco shoppers may be dismayed when they realize that one of the baking staples the retailer ordinarily carries has been discontinued. The membership warehouse has replaced its adored semi-sweet chocolate chips produced by Kirkland Signature with a national brand, and the decision has been about as well-received as Costco's unpopular chicken and bacon sandwich.

Admirers tout the Kirkland Signature product as a superior choice for making pancakes and chocolate chip cookies. Nevertheless, Costco has discontinued the fan-favorite, supposedly due to rising cocoa prices. Instead of seeing the red-label bag waiting to come home to the pantry, customers now have the option of buying Nestlé brand chocolate chips or going without. 

On the subreddit r/Costco, a thread with over 2000 upvotes has been attracting the attention of patrons of the big-box store. Folks have been posting about their disappointment with the replacement, with many suggesting they would rather forgo the tiny chocolate morsels rather than purchase anything made by Nestlé.

For decades, Nestlé has been a somewhat tainted brand. There have been reports of deaths stemming from infant formula made by the company, as well as allegations that Nestlé sources its products by unsustainable and unethical means. Over 70% of the world's cocoa comes from West Africa, and as recently as 2021, Nestlé has had to defend its name in court due to accusations that it employs child and slave labor to source its chocolate confections.

The U.S. Supreme Court found that the company couldn't be held accountable for shady practices overseas, but that hasn't stopped many from boycotting its products altogether. Costco's Kirkland Signature chocolate chips are manufactured by Blommer Chocolate Company, and together, the two businesses developed a sustainability program that ensures farmers receive fair wages and other services to local communities in West Africa. With Costco replacing its Kirkland Signature brand with the Nestlé doppelgänger, some are renewing their pledge to avoid Nestlé merchandise at all costs.

In another subreddit r/Costco thread, netizens have been encouraged to give the retailer feedback on its decision to nix its Kirkland Signature chocolate chips. While some people are simply disappointed their favorite chocolate chips are no longer available, others have been up in arms about replacing it with the Nestlé brand. One poster commented, "Tollhouse chips are nasty." Another gave a more detailed response, writing, "Nestle chocolate chips is a vile product with a wax like consistency, doesn't melt well, doesn't have a rich chocolate flavor AND has artificial vanilla." There are reason related just to baking one might reconsider using chocolate chips in cookies, though the tone of the detractors here is squarely moral. 

Some have suggested alternatives to Nestlé — like Guittard or Ghirardelli  — but unfortunately, Costco doesn't carry choco chips from these makers. Those who only do their shopping at the membership warehouse are stuck with Nestlé for the time being. However, unlike Costco's discontinued Polish hot dogs, there is speculation that it will bring back its Kirkland Signature variant once cocoa prices stabilize. Until then, you can expect fans of the discontinued confection to be vocal about it online.