Costco doesn’t do product launches the way other retailers do. No advertising, no teasing. A product gets tested in-store, validated by members, then deployed. The Kirkland Signature chicken strips are the latest example.
From Chicago Test to National Rollout
The Kirkland Signature rotisserie chicken strips were piloted in several Chicago-area warehouses starting May 2026. The product: 5 pieces for $6.99, approximately 3.5 oz each, sold from the food service stand that operates inside every Costco warehouse.
After validating sales figures and member feedback, Costco expanded availability to the full US network. The $6.99 price sits within the pricing discipline Costco maintains on flagship food products — most notably the whole rotisserie chicken at $4.99, held at that price for decades despite inflation.
7 New Warehouses in August 2026
Separately, Costco announced the opening of 7 new US warehouse locations in August 2026. The group has maintained a steady expansion pace in recent years, targeting areas where member density justifies the high-volume warehouse model.
For Costco, physical expansion remains a core growth lever despite e-commerce pressures: the “destination” model — members make a specific trip to shop — is less vulnerable to Amazon than traditional supermarkets.
The Kirkland Signature Logic in Food
Kirkland Signature isn’t an ordinary private label. It’s frequently manufactured by the same suppliers as the national brands it sits alongside — at equivalent or superior quality — but sold at a lower price thanks to volume and zero marketing spend. That applies to batteries, nuts, clothing, and now chicken strips.
For members, the expansion of the Kirkland food range is a direct perceived-value signal. That’s precisely what Costco protects above all: the perception that the annual membership fee is worth paying.