Every Costco trip comes with a little mystery. One week, a favorite snack is right where it always is. The next week, it’s gone — no sign, no warning, just an empty shelf. This has been happening more than usual lately, and some of the items vanishing are ones that people have relied on for years. From frozen beef patties to fountain drinks, several popular products are no longer showing up at the warehouse. Here’s what’s missing and what to grab instead.
Kirkland sport drinks are nowhere to be found
If weekend soccer games or long runs meant grabbing a case of Kirkland Signature Sport Drinks on the next Costco run, that routine is now broken. The 24-pack of 20-ounce bottles came in three different options, was sweetened with cane sugar, and packed with electrolytes. It was a cheaper pick compared to the big-name sports drinks, and a lot of people got hooked fast. Unfortunately, the product started disappearing from shelves, and multiple Costco employees have confirmed the bad news to shoppers who asked.
There is a small reason to stay hopeful, though. As of early 2026, the drink still shows up on the Costco website listed as “out of stock,” which is different from items that have been removed entirely. One employee reportedly told a shopper that the company might be changing the bottle size, which could explain the gap. Nobody knows for sure, but a full-on permanent goodbye hasn’t been confirmed either. For now, it’s a waiting game — and a good idea to check the beverage aisle every time the cart rolls through.
Those thin and crispy cookies are gone too
Parents who packed lunchboxes with Kirkland Thin & Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies are going to feel this one. Each $10 box had 30 individual one-ounce packs of crunchy cookies made with simple ingredients in a nut-free bakery. They were a hit with kids and adults alike, and they disappeared fast once inventory started getting spotty. The likely reason? Cocoa prices have been through the roof, and Costco already pulled its Kirkland chocolate chips for the same reason back in 2024.
The cookies are still reportedly being sold in Canada, which means the recipe hasn’t been scrapped altogether. One fan on Facebook even shared a rumor that Costco plans to bring them back once cocoa prices come down. Of course, Costco doesn’t usually confirm or deny these decisions, so nobody knows for certain. In the meantime, some shoppers have been picking up Famous Amos cookies from Costco or individual packs of mini chocolate chip cookies from another popular grocery chain. Neither is a perfect match, but they help fill the gap in lunchboxes everywhere.
Kirkland sirloin beef patties left the freezer
There’s nothing quite like pulling a bag of frozen burger patties out of the freezer on a summer evening and firing up the grill. The Kirkland Signature Ground Sirloin and Loin of Beef Patties were a go-to for families. They came in a pack of 18 one-third-pound patties and were 85% lean and 15% fat, which made them a solid pick for people who prefer a leaner burger. Quick, easy, and something even picky eaters would actually eat — what more could anyone ask for?
Whether it was rising beef prices or a shift in what people are buying, these specific patties are gone from shelves in 2026. The good news is that Costco still stocks other frozen beef patty options. Both the Kirkland Signature Ground Beef Patties (18-count) and the Kirkland Signature Grass-Fed Beef Patties (15-count) are still available. They run at 80% lean and 20% fat, so a bit fattier, but still perfectly fine for a backyard cookout. Not ideal for everyone, but at least the freezer section isn’t completely bare.
Pepsi is out of the food court for good
This one has people talking more than almost anything else on the list. After 13 years, Costco officially switched its food court fountain drinks from Pepsi back to Coca-Cola products. The changeover was announced at a shareholders meeting and started rolling out in mid-2025. By early 2026, most locations had made the swap. Shoppers have been posting photos on social media showing the new lineup, which includes Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Powerade, and Minute Maid lemonade. Some locations even have Barq’s Root Beer and Coke Zero.
The big question everyone has — does this change the famous $1.50 hot dog combo? Nope. That deal is still alive and well. The combo price has been the same since 1985, and Costco reportedly sold over 150 million of them in 2024 alone. The original switch to Pepsi back in 2013 was actually done to help keep that price locked in. Now that Coke is back, some people are thrilled and others are bummed. The Coke vs. Pepsi debate is alive and well in Costco food courts across the country.
Country French bread left the bakery section
Walking through the Costco bakery section used to mean picking up a two-pack of Country French loaves for around $5.99. These crusty, rustic loaves had a simple ingredient list and were a staple for plenty of families, especially those with kids who don’t like anything too fancy. The bread was baked in-house and had a loyal following. So when it quietly disappeared from the bakery shelves, people noticed immediately — and they were not happy about it.
The replacement is a single loaf of Rustic Italian Bread, and as of 2026, it costs nearly a dollar more than the two-pack of French loaves did. That’s less bread for more money, which isn’t exactly a winning trade. Costco employees have reportedly heard plenty of complaints about the change. One group of fans even started a petition to bring it back, though it only got 37 signatures. Not exactly enough to move the needle, but the frustration is real all the same.
Kirkland chocolate chips aren’t coming back yet
Home bakers have been feeling this one since 2024. The Kirkland Signature semi-sweet chocolate chips were a massive bag at a great price, and they were a pantry essential for anyone who liked making cookies, brownies, or banana bread. Then cocoa prices spiked — we’re talking a 200% increase compared to the year before — and Costco decided it couldn’t sell the chips at a competitive price anymore. In fact, the Kirkland version would have cost over $1.50 more than the closest competitor on the shelf.
So they pulled it and replaced it with a 72-ounce bag of Nestlé Toll House chips. Those work fine, sure, but a lot of shoppers preferred the Kirkland brand. As of late 2025, the product still has a listing on Costco’s website showing it as out of stock, which some people take as a sign it could return eventually. If cocoa prices ever come down to reasonable levels, there’s a chance the chips could reappear. But for now, Nestlé is the only option at the warehouse.
Croissant sandwich platters disappeared from the deli
Ever run into Costco right before a party to grab a ready-made sandwich platter? The croissant sandwich platters were one of the easiest picks in the deli section. They came loaded with chicken, ham, and roast beef sandwiches on croissants, plus lettuce, cheese, pesto, and dijon mayo. There were about 20 half-sandwich servings per platter. No cooking, no prep, just grab it and go. Then one day, shoppers showed up to order one and couldn’t find it on the form anymore.
Costco replaced it with a sprouted grain sandwich platter priced at $47.99 — about eight dollars more than the other remaining platter options. The new sandwiches still have chicken, ham, and roast beef, but plenty of people say it’s just not the same without the croissants. Some shoppers have been vocal about their disappointment, though it hasn’t led to any changes so far. If throwing a party on a budget was part of the plan, this switch definitely stings a little.
Seasoned roast beef slices are still missing
Making sandwiches at home is one of the simplest ways to save money on lunch, and a lot of Costco shoppers depended on the Kirkland Signature seasoned roast beef from the deli section for exactly that reason. The prepackaged slices were well-seasoned, reasonably priced, and perfect for stacking on bread with some mustard and lettuce. But at some point, they vanished from the refrigerated case without any real announcement, and they haven’t shown back up since.
Shoppers online have been comparing notes about possible replacements. One person mentioned finding something similar at a Costco Business Center, but it wasn’t the same Kirkland label. Others have resorted to buying roast beef at regular grocery stores, where the price can be three to four times higher. With beef prices continuing to rise across the board, the chances of seeing this product return anytime soon seem pretty slim. It’s one of those quiet losses that hits harder than expected.
Frozen smoothie drinks keep rotating out
The Costco food court menu changes more often than most people realize, and the frozen drink situation has been especially chaotic. The original fruit smoothie had been on the menu since 2007, and it was a fan favorite. Then in early 2025, Costco replaced it with a strawberry mango version that didn’t go over nearly as well. People complained about the added sugar and said it just wasn’t as good. That drink didn’t last long before it was swapped out for a frozen strawberry lemonade instead.
But even the lemonade couldn’t stick around. Issues with the base ingredient caused it to be pulled from the menu within weeks of its debut. By the end of 2025, the only frozen drink option standing was the frozen coffee drink. That’s a lot of turnover for one menu slot. If frozen fruity drinks are a must at the food court, 2026 isn’t looking great. The food court seems to still be figuring out what works, which means another replacement could show up at any time — or the spot could just stay empty for a while.
Costco has always been the kind of store where things come and go without much warning. Some of these items might return when prices settle down, and others are probably gone for good. The best move is to keep an eye on price tags — an asterisk in the corner means the item is on its way out. Grab extras when something looks like it’s leaving, and don’t get too attached. That’s just how warehouse shopping works, and 2026 is proving it all over again.
