By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-01-03 22:06:38 | Updated at 2025-01-05 21:48:31
1 day ago
Costco customers were thrilled to learn that the popular members-only chain brought back a fan-favorite food court item - until they learned an unexpected twist.
The store's Kirkland-brand Signature Combo Pizza returned to stores in March 2024 for the first time since 2020.
The pizza is covered in various toppings like sausage, mushrooms, onions, and green peppers.
But unlike previous years, the Combo Pizza is not available to purchase at the Costco food court.
Customers who purchase it must instead bake it themselves after buying it cold in-store.
The product's unavailability in Costco food courts was not the only twist that left shoppers unimpressed.
Another issue was the pizza's $16.99 price tag - well above its original $9.95 cost at the food court.
Costco shopper Shannon Fong tried the Combo Pizza and wrote that it was 'pretty good just small for the price' in an Instagram video description on New Year's Eve.
Social media users were not impressed with the new price of Costco's Kirkland-brand Signature Combo Pizza
Costco brought back the Combo Pizza in March 2024 after removing it from its food court menus in 2020
Multiple Instagram users weren't afraid to admit they thought the Combo Pizza was 'a bit expensive.'
Various Reddit users also gave harsh opinions about the price, along with the Combo Pizza's taste.
'I missed the combo pizza so much, I ended up buying it. It's just average/slightly above average, not worth the money at all,' a shopper wrote in a Reddit post.
'The pizza itself comes frozen. Additional toppings are simply added. Stupidly easy to do at home,' another customer commented.
Users suggested Costco shoppers by a pizza at Lidl or Whole Foods Market instead.
Others joked that they would bring pizza to a Costco food court and request employees 'bake it' for them.
'Costco, stop playing and bring the combo back to the food court,' one fan wrote.
The Combo Pizza became a popular product shortly after pizza was added to Costco food courts in the 1990s.
The pizza cost $9.95 at Costco food courts before the chain removed it from the menu
During its original run, Costco shoppers were able to purchase the Combo Pizza for only $9.95 plus tax, according to Chowhound.
It was also the same price as Costco's signature cheese and pepperoni pizzas at the time.
Costco removed the pizza from its food court menus in 2020, leaving shoppers were furious over the decision.
The membership warehouse chain claimed it removed the option due to cost concerns, according to Yahoo Life.
One person even created a petition to bring back the Combo Pizza in August 2020.
'The termination of combo pizza from Costco Food Courts nationwide is not only saddening, but total madness, and just straight up WRONG,' the petition creator wrote.
More than 18,000 petitioners also threatened to cancel their Costco memberships if the Combo Pizza wouldn't be back on the food court menus.
The return of the Combo Pizza is one of many changes Costco has made to its stores and food courts.
Costco has made several changes to its stores and food courts, including its first membership fee price hike in seven years
One change includes Costco's controversial move to drop Pepsi beverages and replace them with Coca-Cola products in all of its food courts in 2025.
These products include Coke, Coke Zero, Diet Coke, and Sprite.
Another change was a new food court menu at one of its Canadian locations, which angered shoppers nationwide.
While the food court changes may have come as a shock to members, it may not have been as surprising as Costco's membership fee price hike in September 2024.
The rise in price was the first in seven years and included a $5 a year increase for a standard Costco membership.
The Executive level membership increased by $10, making the yearly membership cost $130.
