10 Costco Food Court Secrets Only Employees Know About

Costco's sales are strong and the company's stock prices are soaring. This successful retail giant was founded 42 years ago and today has 770 points of sale. The chain's

food

court

s are very popular. So, let's learn 10 Costco Food Court Secrets Only Employees Know. One pound of cheese per pizza Cheese lovers should

know

that each Costco full cheese pizza contains more than one pound of cheese. The cheese blend used on Costco's

food

court

pizzas is a combination of low-fat, part-skim mozzarella and Parmesan. Mozzarella makes up 80 percent of the cheese mixture, while parmesan makes up 20 percent. While the cheese content is high, you'll be pleased to

know

that Costco's food court pizzas contain no hydrogenated oils, lard, or trans fats.

Plus, you'll be happy to know that Costco uses real, fresh cheeses. They do not use processed or powdered cheeses. The pizza making process at Costco is very organized and consistent. Cheese, toppings and sauce are carefully measured so that the pizzas always taste the same. Part of the pizza making process is automated. For example, a robotic machine adds sauce to each pizza as the pizza spins on a platform, kind of like an album turning on a record player. Costco has developed an efficient system to produce these addictive, cheesy pizzas. Each pizza is ready to cook in just sixty seconds.

The pizzas are completely cooked in just 6 minutes. If you like inhaling Costco pizza slices while taking a break from snagging deals at Costco outlets, you'll also appreciate the fact that Costco gets rid of unsold pizza slices after one hour. Costco management wants customers to enjoy fresh slices every time. With all this attention to detail, it's no wonder Costco's food court pizzas are so popular. Costco is currently ranked as the 14th largest pizza chain in the United States. Food court is not intended to be a source of income Costco keeps food court prices very low because it wants its customers to enjoy the entire Costco experience... and keep coming back.

People love visiting Costco food courts during their Costco shopping trips, in part because the food and drinks offered are so affordable. For example, each slice of hearty, filling pizza is priced at just $1.99. The food court is not intended to be a big source of income for Costco. Their goal is to show customers that Costco cares about them. The cheap meals offered at Costco food courts definitely generate a lot of goodwill. Customers expect to get their hot dogs, pizza slices, baked chicken and other Costco food court classics at affordable prices. Costco food courts work on the same principle as IKEA food courts.

Food at both food courts is reasonably priced. Affordable food is provided to keep customers in stores and shopping. Costco makes most of its profits from in-store sales, as does IKEA. Mega-chain food courts have a lot of appeal because they offer great deals to customers. It's safe to say that many people pass by these food courts, even when they don't plan to go shopping. They come

only

for the food. Of course, they might decide to pick up a few things while they're there. Food courts like Costco's drive business. They help win and retain customers. The truth is that certain menu items at Costco's food court, including hot dogs, actually cost Costco cash.

The company loses money on hot dogs, but it doesn't care, because customers who order hot dogs can buy many things at the store. This Costco sandwich has a cult following Pizza slices and hot dogs may be the first thing people think of when they hear the words "Costco Food Court," but there's another food court menu item that's getting rave reviews , although it is not. just as famous. This menu item is the BBQ Brisket Sandwich. It's so beloved by a certain segment of Costco fans that it has gained a cult following. Many people believe it is the most delicious item on the Costco food court menu.

It comes wrapped in a cardboard circle, costs

only

$4.99, and offers superior flavor for an affordable price. While it's technically the most expensive "single serve" Costco food court menu item, it's actually not that expensive, right? It is a very filling sandwich, filled with tender meat and seasoned with a sweet and smoky BBQ sauce. The sandwich also features a large, soft bun. Inside the bun, you'll find beef brisket topped with coleslaw. The coleslaw adds a crunch and fresh touch. When you gorge on this exceptional sandwich, you'll likely make a mess, but it will be worth it. Many people are surprised that they can get such a delicious sandwich at a cheap food court.

This juicy and tender beef brisket sandwich is worth trying. The quality of the meat is excellent, the sauce delicious, and the coleslaw offers the perfect finishing touch. Plus, this is a filling sandwich. It offers a lot of value for the money. Most Costco food courts offer this menu item, but some may not. Hopefully this popular sandwich is offered at your local Costco food court. No Costco Membership Required If you visit a Costco with an outdoor food court, you won't need a membership to get your hands on cheap, filling, and delicious Costco food. If the food court is inside, you'll probably need a membership.

Outdoor food courts are there for all consumers, whether they have Costco memberships or not. Typically, Costco outlets with outdoor food courts are located in places with warmer climates. Inside Costco, people are typically asked to present proof of membership before enjoying everything these outlets have to offer, including indoor food courts. The cost of the most basic membership at Costco is $60, so it doesn't cost a fortune to join. If you purchase a membership, you'll have no problem getting food and drinks at Costco's food court, and you'll also be able to get deals at wholesale prices on a ton of products, from groceries to electronics and more.

If you don't feel like purchasing your own membership, you should know that you can enter Costco as a member guest. However, the member must pay for their purchases within the warehouse. It is also possible to enter Costco with Costco Cash Cards, but only members can purchase these cards, so you will need to ask a member to purchase a Costco Cash Card for you. Hot dog sales are through the roof Costco serves about a hundred million hot dogs each year. In fact, Costco started out serving nothing but hot dogs at its outlets. There were hot dog carts on site, rather than the larger food kiosks we see now.

The whole hot dog cart thing was tried out in San Diego in the mid-80s and was a big hit with Costco customers. Costco keeps the price of its hot dogs low to offer perks to members. Costco leaders want Costco members to feel special. Offering cheap hot dogs helps customers feel rewarded. Costco hot dogs sell for $1.50 and come with a 20-ounce soft drink. A free soft drink refill is available. Few would doubt that this is a lot. Even Costco

employees

appreciate the hot dog offering and many enjoy the hot dog and soda combos regularly. While some fast food menu items decrease in size over the years, this is not the case with the hot dog offering.

The hot dog is actually ten percent larger than it used to be. The drink is also eight ounces larger. Clearly, the powers that be at Costco understand that hot dogs are a powerful marketing tool. They're not going to spoil the success by raising the price of their hot dog and soda combo. Maybe one day they will need to increase the price of the combo, but that probably won't happen anytime soon. Costco is doing very well and can afford to lose some money on their hot dogs. No Costco Employee Discounts Most Costco

employees

love eating at Costco food courts, but they don't get employee discounts on hot dogs, pizza slices, and other Costco food court fare.

They have to pay full retail price like everyone else. Of course, the food is really affordable. Many employees have commented on the fact that the food court is a really convenient benefit. It is there for employees when they are hungry or thirsty. Food is cheap, abundant and easily accessible. Sure, Costco employees would probably love to get discounts on food court products, but most are grateful for the affordability of the food, even if they have to pay full price. Employees get other benefits, including four free memberships and extra pay on Sundays. Costco is generally considered a great place to work, thanks to competitive benefits packages and access to an employee stock purchase plan.

So what food court menu items do Costco employees like best? Well, the pizza slices are a big hit with the staff. The offering of hot dogs and soft drinks is also very popular. While some employees sometimes get tired of the food, they tend to get less tired of pizza and hot dogs. The churros also get glowing praise from Costco workers. Menu items vary from country to country. In Canada, it is possible to enjoy poutine at Costco food courts. In case you don't know, poutine is a pile of French fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. Yes, it is as delicious as it looks.

Menus at Costco food courts vary from country to country. There are Costco outlets in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Iceland, France, Spain, and Australia. Menus change from time to time, but expect to find lasagna at Costco's Mexican food courts, mango smoothies in Iceland, and shepherd's pie in Wales. Some people have been to Costco food courts in several countries and love to compare the international menus with the menus in their own countries. Menus are tailored to the tastes of residents of specific regions. This doesn't just happen in Costco food courts.

It happens at McDonald's, KFC and many other fast food restaurants. Costco food courts in other countries may not be radically different from what you're used to, but there will be small changes to the menus that will be interesting and novel. A fun fact is that a Costco membership will work in any country. If you're traveling outside your home country, simply show your card to a Costco employee and explain that you're international. There will be a code that the cashier enters that makes your card valid in that country. You'll have no problem trying international food court items no matter where you are, as long as you have a Costco membership.

Some Costco menu items aren't too healthy. Most of us don't expect huge slices of cheese pizza or hot dogs to be super healthy. When we order fast food, we realize that we are indulging in foods that tend to contain a lot of calories, grams of fat, and sodium. So it shouldn't be a big surprise that some Costco food court menu items aren't the healthiest. Still, it's good to be aware of the calorie count of popular items sold at these food courts. Pepperoni pizza has 620 calories per slice. Each slice has 24 grams of fat. If you opt for the combo pizza slice, you'll get a slice of pizza with 680 calories and 29 grams of fat.

Cheese pizza has a whopping 700 calories per slice, with 28 grams of fat. Sausages have 550 calories and 34 grams of fat. If you indulge, balance things out with some light meals after you leave Costco. The high calorie content in some Costco menu items doesn't stop people from ordering them. These food courts do big business. The baked chickens at Costco are freshly made Have you ever tried a baked chicken at the Costco food court? Whether you have or not, you'll be pleased to know that these menu items are prepared fresh and this is part of the reason they are so delicious.

For the uninitiated, a baked chicken at Costco's food court is similar to a calzone. It's made with pizza dough filled with pizza cheese, chicken breast, Caesar salad dressing, and bacon bits. The pizza dough used in Costco food court items is exceptional. Before pressing the dough, rest it for a full day or up to 27 hours. When the dough is baked, it reaches the perfect degree of chewiness. Some people ask for more Caesar sauce toaccompany and then use it as a sauce. This menu trick is supposed to amplify the deliciousness of this classic Costco food court menu item.

Of course, it will also increase the number of calories. While it is possible to buy frozen Kirkland Signature Chicken Bakes at Costco to enjoy at home, most people find the food court version more delicious, because food court Chicken Bakes are made fresh daily. If you're trying to keep your sodium intake low, this tasty product may not be the right choice, because it has more than a daily supply of sodium. Some beloved Costco items are gone. Many fast food establishments change their menus sometimes and then receive complaints. It's quite common for people to miss older menu items that have been discontinued.

This has happened with Costco's food court menu. Ice cream bars were taken off the menu and some people were just sad. Apparently, the cost of producing the delicious bars was simply too high. Although Costco runs food courts more as a gesture of goodwill toward members, and to make life more enjoyable for Costco shoppers, sometimes they need to consider the bottom line. Polish sausage was also removed from the menu because it wasn't really the healthiest option. Of course, many people miss Polish sausage. The Polish hot dog had a lot of flavor, but was left out to make room for healthy menu items that many people probably don't want.

McDonald's added healthier items, like salads, but they don't sell well. Costco followed suit, but judging by what most people eat in Costco food courts, the higher-calorie fare is still the most popular by far. It's good that healthy things are available to those who want them, but it's usually not what people crave. Do you want more? Simply tap that screen to watch another of our great videos. And if it's your first time here, show us some love and hit the subscribe button and ring the bell to join our notification squad.