Right now, across Costco warehouses nationwide, shelves are being quietly rearranged. Products that were there last month aren’t there this month. Fountain drink machines are getting swapped out. And members — many of whom plan their entire weekly grocery haul around what Costco carries — are showing up, scanning the aisles, and leaving confused. If you’ve felt like something’s off at your local Costco lately, you’re not imagining it. A handful of beloved items are disappearing in 2026, and some of them are genuinely hard to replace.
Your Favorite Sports Drink Just Got Pulled
The Kirkland Signature Sport Drink was one of those Costco finds that felt like a secret. A 24-pack of 20-ounce bottles, each loaded with electrolytes and sweetened with cane sugar, for a fraction of what you’d pay for Gatorade. Three flavors. Clean ingredients. People loved it. Then, seemingly without warning, it vanished.
Reddit lit up, as it tends to do when Costco pulls something popular. “I got my first case this year and loved it,” wrote one member. “I am devastated.” Others confirmed with warehouse employees that the product had been officially discontinued. But here’s a small reason not to lose hope entirely — the product is listed as “out of stock” on Costco’s website, not removed altogether. That distinction matters. One Redditor even reported that a Costco employee suggested the drink might return in a different size. Nothing confirmed. But the door doesn’t seem completely shut, either.
The Cookie That Lunchbox Parents Are Mourning
Kirkland’s Thin & Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies had a weirdly loyal following. Thirty individually wrapped one-ounce packs per box, made in a nut-free bakery with simple, clean ingredients, all for about ten bucks. For parents packing school lunches, they were basically perfect. And then — gone.
This one seems tied to the same force that killed Costco’s Kirkland Signature Chocolate Chips last year: the soaring global price of cocoa. When your raw material costs spike, something in the product line has to give. “My Costco stopped selling them right after I tried them,” one frustrated shopper posted online. That timing stings, doesn’t it? One Facebook user shared a rumor that Costco plans to bring the cookies back when cocoa prices stabilize. Of course, Costco famously doesn’t comment on these things, so take it with a grain of — well, sugar. In the meantime, the cookies are reportedly still available in Canada. Some people have turned to Trader Joe’s mini chocolate chip cookie packs as a substitute, which run about 99 cents each. Decent alternative. Not quite the same, though.
What Happened to the Leaner Burger Patties?
If you kept a box of Kirkland Signature Ground Sirloin and Loin of Beef Patties in your freezer during grilling season, you already know the bad news. The 18-count pack of one-third-pound patties — 85% lean, 15% fat — has been quietly phased out. No dramatic announcement. Just empty freezer space where they used to be.
Was it rising beef prices? Shifting consumer preferences? Hard to say. Costco hasn’t explained. The good news is that frozen beef patties haven’t disappeared from Costco entirely. You can still grab an 18-count box of Kirkland Ground Beef Patties or a 15-count of the Grass-Fed variety. But both of those are 80/20 — that’s 80% lean and 20% fat. For the crowd that specifically wanted the leaner option, there’s no direct swap available right now. And if you’re someone who watched their macros while still wanting a quick weeknight dinner off the grill, that difference actually matters.
The Pepsi-to-Coke Switch Nobody Saw Coming (Again)
Okay, maybe some people saw this coming. But after 13 years of Pepsi products at Costco food courts, the warehouse chain has officially switched back to Coca-Cola. The transition was announced at a Costco shareholders meeting last year, and by early 2026, most locations had already completed the swap. Shoppers have been posting photos on social media as their local food courts flip over — new signage, new machines, new options.
So what are you getting now? Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Powerade, and Minute Maid lemonade. Some locations also have Barqs Root Beer and Coke Zero. Reviews are, predictably, split right down the Coke-vs-Pepsi line. The thing that most people want to know: does this affect the legendary $1.50 hot dog combo? It doesn’t. That price — which has been locked in since 1985, which is kind of wild — remains untouched. Costco sold over 150 million of those combos in 2024 alone. They’re not messing with that formula. The reason Costco originally switched to Pepsi back in 2013 was reportedly to help maintain that $1.50 price point. Now that they’ve moved back to Coke, clearly whatever deal they struck works financially. For Pepsi loyalists, though? This one’s probably permanent.
A Few More Quiet Disappearances You Might Have Missed
Beyond those major items, several other Kirkland products have gone missing with little fanfare. The Kirkland Organic Soy Beverage — a staple for anyone avoiding dairy — was pulled due to what the company called slow sales. That one surprised shoppers who relied on it, since it was significantly cheaper than other soy milk brands at regular grocery stores. One resourceful member even emailed Costco directly and got that explanation back.
Then there’s the Country French loaves from the bakery section. Crusty, rustic, and apparently beloved enough that someone started an online petition to bring them back. It got 37 signatures. Not exactly a groundswell, but the sentiment was real. The replacement — a rustic Italian bread — hasn’t won everyone over. And the seasoned roast beef from the deli? That one’s been gone for a while, and nobody expects it back anytime soon. Rising beef prices are a recurring theme here. Some members have found similar products at Costco Business Centers, but for most people, the regular warehouse is their only option. Finding a comparable deli roast beef elsewhere can mean paying three or four times as much.
The Mayonnaise That Never Quite Existed
This is a weird one. Kirkland Signature mayonnaise sounds like it should be a thing, right? Costco sells everything in bulk — condiments, sauces, oils — and mayo is one of the most purchased condiments in America. But a store-brand Kirkland mayo has never really gotten off the ground in the U.S. You can apparently find it in Canada, and some Facebook users insist they’ve purchased it before, but by most accounts, it just never stuck domestically.
The backstory is kind of fascinating: Costco reportedly tried to make a healthier version by adding omega-3 fatty acids. The result was a slimy, separated mess that didn’t pass quality standards. So they shelved the idea. Whether it’s still on anyone’s drawing board inside Costco HQ is unknown. Don’t hold your breath on seeing Kirkland mayo show up in 2026.
But Wait — Something New Is Actually Coming
Not all the Costco changes in 2026 involve taking things away. One update that’s actually exciting: the company is finally letting members order custom cakes and deli trays through the Costco app and website. If you’ve ever ordered a Costco sheet cake, you know the old process. You had to physically go to the warehouse, fill out a paper form at the bakery counter, and then come back later to pick it up. Two trips. In 2026. For a cake.
CEO Ron Vachris confirmed during a Q1 2026 earnings call that the system is going digital. Members will be able to choose cake sizes, flavors, designs, and custom inscriptions from their phone. No specific go-live date has been announced for every warehouse, but the rollout is already underway. Vachris called the old paper system “archaic,” and honestly, he’s right. The company is also looking at whether other old-school features — like food court ordering — might get similar app treatment down the road. That part isn’t confirmed yet. But considering Costco has historically been slow to adopt digital tools, even this much feels like a big shift.
How to Know If Your Favorite Item Is Next
Here’s a trick that veteran Costco shoppers already know. If you see a price tag with an asterisk in the upper-right corner, that item is on its way out. It doesn’t always mean it’s gone forever — some products cycle in and out seasonally — but it’s a strong signal to stock up if it’s something you care about. Costco’s inventory strategy is famously unpredictable. They carry roughly 4,000 items at any given time, compared to the 30,000-plus you’d find at a typical grocery store. That curated approach means things rotate. Fast.
There is precedent for hope, though. Kirkland Signature Peanut Butter was pulled not long ago, and shoppers were furious. It’s back on shelves now. So disappearance doesn’t always mean death. Sometimes it’s a reformulation. Sometimes it’s a supply chain hiccup. Sometimes it’s a pricing renegotiation that takes months to sort out. And sometimes — like with Pepsi at the food court — it’s just done.
Most of these changes come down to money. Cocoa prices, beef costs, supplier contracts, consumer demand. Costco’s whole model depends on keeping prices low, and when that gets harder, something has to give. It’s not personal — even though it definitely feels that way when your go-to freezer staple or lunchbox snack just isn’t there anymore. Keep checking those shelves. Some of these things might come back. Some definitely won’t. That’s just how Costco works.
