There are Costco secrets like why Costco hot dogs are so cheap, and Costco rotisserie chickens are no exception. Costco has sold more than a decade’s worth of rotisserie chickens at the same price.
Which is only $4.99 and is significantly larger than the supermarket fowl.
Rotisserie chickens from Costco are a hit. Kirkland Signature whole chickens are delicious, popular, and inexpensive.
While their low cost and delectable tastes are well-known, there are a few secrets that you may not be aware of:
The rotisserie chickens for $4.99 are a wonderful price
There is no catch to these low-cost dinners, at least not for the consumer. Inflation raises the cost of things for both consumers and businesses, yet Costco has refused to raise the price of its rotisserie chickens, which has remained at $4.99 since 2009.
Costco’s low price will entice more visitors into their shop, allowing them to make more profitable purchases while they’re there, while other merchants hike their rotisserie chicken prices. These are the items you should probably avoid purchasing at Costco.
Rotisserie chickens are popular at Costco
In 2020, Costo will have sold around 101 million chickens. These are astounding numbers, and they represent a new high for the business in terms of the number of rotisserie chickens sold in a single year.
Though Costco is known for its poultry, some things are only available at Costco.
Processed foods include rotisserie chickens
They don’t, however, have a lot of unusual substances. Because the chickens are typically seasoned in factories before being supplied to Costco, they are classified as “processed food.” Even Dr. Oz stated that the birds are among the healthiest processed foods available and that removing the skins increases their nutritious content even more.
On their rotisserie chickens, the shop loses money
Costco loses between $30 and $40 million a year on chickens, according to the retailer’s chief financial officer. Despite this, they refuse to lower their prices to $5.99. They believe a chicken should cost $4.99. The hens are less unselfish, but they help the store’s business line by increasing foot traffic.
Raw Chicken from Costco
The rotisserie chickens are similar to the Kirkland Signature chickens that the firm offers raw.
Costco and other chicken manufacturers raise most of the estimated 9 billion chickens produced in the United States each year on factory farms with tens of thousands of birds in windowless buildings.
The overcrowding has an impact on animal welfare and can help spread hazardous germs like salmonella and campylobacter, which are particularly common in hens.
Loss Leader
A “loss leader” is a supermarket term for an item that is sold for less than its true market value to draw customers to the store, where it is hoped they will spend a lot of money on big-ticket items and items that simply provide less value.
That’s exactly what the rotisserie chicken is and has been for Costco, whose business strategy relies on individuals purchasing flat-fee memberships only to get into the store and then purchasing a large number of products they didn’t realize they “needed.”
It’s always at the back of the store
You don’t need to go to every Costco in America to know that the rotisserie chicken is always in the back of the shop. This is due to a corporate strategy for its placement.
Customers will traverse through many other aisles on their way to the back of the shop for the rotisserie chicken, picking up a variety of other, more expensive things along the way.
It will not be cheaper to roast it yourself
Buying a whole uncooked chicken is the cheapest alternative because you won’t have to pay someone to cut it up, prepare, or cook it. However, at Costco, rotisserie chickens are less expensive than entire, uncooked chickens.
A Costco rotisserie chicken’s cooked weight is consistently about three pounds
Costco’s rotisserie birds are closer to three pounds than those seen at supermarkets. You may even bring home a bird weighing more than three pounds, making the $4.99 price even more appealing. The rotisserie spits cannot accommodate a chicken weighing more than six pounds.
Rotisserie workers at Costco are well compensated and receive health benefits
Costco has a reputation for paying its employees reasonably in comparison to other retail professions. Costco hourly employees are also covered by health insurance.
So you don’t have to worry about the well-being of the workers who prepared the chicken behind the deli counter when you consume a Costco rotisserie chicken.
Conclusion
However, while roasted rotisserie chickens are handy, tasty, and inexpensive, they are often unhealthy. As previously reported by CR, a salt solution is regularly injected into roasted birds to boost flavor and tenderness.
Per 3-ounce serving of Costco rotisserie chicken, there is 460 mg of salt. That’s about a sixth of an adult’s daily salt requirement (2,300 mg). With 520 mg of sodium per 3-ounce serving, ShopRite’s Bowl & Basket chicken is even saltier.
FAQS
How long will a Costco rotisserie chicken last in the fridge?
4 days
You can extend it for up to five days if you’re careful. Refrigerate the chicken in sealed shallow containers or securely wrapped in thick cling film or aluminum foil to keep it safe and delicious.
What makes Costco chicken so delicious?
Extra salty rotisserie chickens
If you’ve ever had Costco chicken, you already know how salty it can be (and, in turn, incredibly tasty). That’s because a flavoring saline solution is pumped into them. Each bird has 460 milligrams of salt in its body.
What’s the Deal With Costco Chicken?
Because the meat is sold at a loss, it is so inexpensive. This is done on purpose since the company recognizes that low-cost meat attracts customers who will inevitably buy other things.
Why do they persist in maintaining the $4.99 price?
Costco understands that once you eat their chicken, you’ll want more – because we all know that you can’t just stroll into a Costco and buy one item. It’s a smart business move on their part, but it’s also a good deal for you and anyone else who wants to eat the chicken with you.
