Costco Muffins: Shrinkflation Or Flavor Improvement at MN Stores?

If you've ever walked into a Costco, you already know that it is MASSIVE! You could buy a TV, a mattress, a refrigerator, ground beef, giant ribeyes, or even a brand new outfit. It is sometimes hard to focus on the shopping list in your hand because a typical Costco warehouse contains about 4,000 different product SKUs.

Next time you stop in a Costco in Minnesota, you may notice that a change has happened with a few of its most popular items.

One of Costco's Most Popular Items Just Got A Makeover...And Not Everyone Is Happy About It

At the end of 2024, the New York Post stated that Costco was planning on making a switch in the bakery area. This was about the same time news hit that the book section was going away.

Based on the initial story, the muffins that Costco fans have loved for years were being replaced. The familiar 6-pack of chocolate, lemon poppy seed, and other seasonal flavors were being switched out by an 8-pack of muffins that were smaller. Along with the new flavors was an increase in price. According to a Reddit post, the price of the new muffins at Costco are 58% more expensive.

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If you've ever wondered what shrinkflation looks like...take a plastic container of Costco's old muffins and sit them next to the new muffins that they are selling. You may be out of luck finding the old version of the muffins, though, because it sounds like the switch has officially happened at Minnesota Costco stores.

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Why Some Customers Are Loving The New Costco Muffins

Is it true that Costco swapped out the muffin sizes and flavors because of customer complaints? That is what Better Homes & Gardens suggested.

Customers were complaining that the muffins were too big, and finishing 12 before they went bad was not possible. (FYI, it is. We did it at our house often. And this is also why freezers exist.)

READ MORE: Award-Winning Bakery in Minnesota Shows Off Huge Expansion

I'm not saying that this complaint isn't completely valid but people know that they are shopping at Costco, right?! This isn't the place you go to buy 4 rolls of toilet paper. You go here to buy a massive package with mutliple packages inside of it. You are buying in bulk. People walk in and expect to buy in bulk.

As far as the new flavors, so far I'm seeing cornbread, blueberry, and a raspberry/lemon combo. Comparing the old to the new, personally, the lemon poppyseed flavor was one of my favorites. But because the jumbo muffins seemed to be a bit too dry this past year, I was buying less and less. The new muffins, though, seem a bit too moist. That's just my opinion, though - you can make your own assessment.

Change is hard! If you are wanting the huge muffins back because it fills you up more, here's an idea - instead of eating one giant muffin, just eat two to fill up your belly. ;)