Costco, America’s largest retail chain, known for its membership system and unbeatable wholesale prices, has stood out in the prepared food market, and without a doubt, one of its star products is the gigantic pizza that looks like a flying saucer full of delicious sauce and fantastic melted cheese (it’s lots and lots of cheese, just the way America likes it).
This pizza is one of the bestsellers on the pizza market in the United States, and the craziest thing of all is that Costco is not even a “pizzeria” per se. And it’s not a roast chicken restaurant either, and yet it sells one of the most famous and best-selling chickens in the country. How does Costco do that? Here are its secrets.
The Invincible $9.95 Costco Pizza No One Can Beat
Costco pizza is also a phenomenon that goes beyond shopping because, as soon as you enter any store, it is impossible not to notice the long lines of customers waiting for a slice or a box with their steaming, hot, delicious pizza. The main reason for its success lies in the combination of three key factors: size, flavor and price.
The first thing is its flavor, because Costco uses high-quality, slow-fermented dough, New York style (which is in turn a style derived from Italian pizza), which is covered in a sauce with natural tomatoes and olive oil. On top, a thick cushion of juicy and delicious cheese provides the base for all the toppings you can add, from vegetables to pepperoni and ground beef. 18 inches (ca. 46 cm) feed people easily, so at just $9.95, a price of less than $2.5 per person gives one of the best value-price ratios on the American market.
Costco Roasted Chicken: The King of Price and Convenience
If there is one product that defines Costco, it is its famous rotisserie chicken. It’s only $4.99, and that’s been the case for years and at every Costco store in the country. This juicy, attractive and healthy whole chicken has sparked a cult following among regular buyers. Its success is not only due to its low price, but also its taste and convenience.
Costco rotisserie chicken is known for its juiciness and well-balanced flavor with a secret spice blend. Unlike other options on the market that tend to be dry or overly seasoned, Costco has managed to maintain a flavor profile that appeals to a wide audience. This is due, in part, to a cooking process that ensures the meat stays tender and juicy, plus a light marinade that brings out the chicken’s natural flavor. It’s ready to take and heat at home, but you can even take it hot straight from the store, where they keep it at the right temperature so it doesn’t overcook or dry out, but also not too cold to ruin it.
Costco Muffins Are Worthy of a World Award
Not just pizza and chicken: Costco also has one of the most famous bakeries in the United States, with haute cuisine breads and pastries. The muffins that have made their way among the giants of the market stand out, warm and fresh from the oven.
They are known for their enormous size and spongy texture. As with other Costco products, price is one of the main factors that makes muffins so popular: getting six large units for one low cost is a tough deal to turn down. The six-pack costs $7.99, a price that seems almost symbolic because it is as if they were given to you as a gift. If you want to go all-in, the 12-pack is $9.99, and you’ll get a package of flavor and butteriness to share an afternoon with your family or a Sunday brunch.