Attention, Costco shoppers: Those free samples are about to make a complete comeback. The retailer has just revealed it will bring back full sampling as well as its food court and seating, in another sign of the U.S. slowly shifting toward normal amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Richard Galanti, CFO and executive vice president at Costco, has stated that the retailer will introduce full sampling in phases. About 170 of Costco’s approximately 550 locations will bring back full sampling by the first week of June, with the rest of locations returning to full sampling by the end of June. Earlier in May, Costco announced that they were dropping their requirements for shoppers to wear masks after becoming one of the first retailers to mandate the practice at the start of the pandemic.
Last summer, when initial pandemic lock downs were prematurely easing, Costco temporarily brought back free samples, but they were limited to prepackaged items kept behind plexiglass shields. “Increased safety protocols are and will be in place, including all samples prepared behind plexiglass, prepared in smaller batches for better safety control and distribute it to members one at a time,” says Galanti.
Costco also plans to bring back seating for food courts by next month, but it will be about half the seating capacity as it was before the pandemic. The tables will be spaced out to maintain physical separation, and seat a maximum of four people. The retailer also plans to roll out new food items this summer as it expands its food court menu, including “new and improved churros” as well as high-end soft ice cream to replace their frozen yogurt, said Galanti.
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