5 Costco Changes Customers Actually Loved - Tasting Table

"The first Costco store opened in the 1980s, but it wasn't until the mid-1990s that it offered Kirkland Signature items for the first time. In the late 1990s, in a bid to keep up with the times, it started selling goods online. Throughout the 2000s, it expanded internationally, and in the 2020s, its cardholders exceeded 145,000. So yes, this warehouse retailer knows that change is good, and most importantly for any business, change is profitable."

"Sometimes it takes a while to convince consumers of this fact though. When Costco makes changes, let's be honest, some customers get pretty worked up about it online. But we're not here to focus on the negative (if you're searching for that, take a look at this list of changes that made Costco shoppers angry). We're here to focus on the customers that have enjoyed and supported Costco's business changes over the years. From new drink suppliers to bagel pack alterations, keep reading to find out some of the Costco changes that customers actually loved."

"In 2025, things escalated yet again when Costco decided to switch from an exclusive partnership with Pepsi to one with Coca-Cola. Ouch. But while Pepsi might have been left licking its wounds, many fans were thrilled about the change. It makes sense: Coca-Cola is currently winning in the cola popularity wars. A survey by YouGov ranks Coca-Cola at number 12 on its most popular beverages list, while Pepsi sits at number 13."

Costco opened its first store in the 1980s and began offering Kirkland Signature items in the mid-1990s. In the late 1990s, it started selling goods online to keep pace with changing consumer behavior. During the 2000s, it expanded internationally, and in the 2020s its cardholders exceeded 145,000. The retailer’s willingness to change is presented as profitable, even though some customers react negatively to changes online. The focus is on customers who enjoyed and supported business updates, including changes to suppliers and product packaging. A highlighted example is Costco switching from an exclusive Pepsi partnership to Coca-Cola in 2025, which some shoppers welcomed because Coca-Cola is currently more popular than Pepsi.

Read at Tasting Table