Overview
- Shoppers began spotting the red 4.5‑pound Kirkland bags in the Costco app and at warehouses in early August, with posts from multiple states documenting the return.
- Costco removed the chips in July 2024 because rising cocoa prices made the product hard to sell at its previous price point.
- Restocking is phased and uneven so not all locations have the chips yet, and store-level distribution appears to be driving the patchy availability.
- The 4.5‑pound bags are now selling around $11.99 to $12.59 in many stores, up from about $7.99 in 2021, and shoppers noted Costco had sold Nestlé Toll House as a temporary substitute.
- The comeback highlights how commodity costs shape private‑label choices and could determine whether Costco phases out the Nestlé substitute or keeps both products as supply evens out.