Many Canadians have a few Costco favorites they never leave without, and here are some items some Canadian shoppers always buy.
Rotisserie chicken
Tucked away at the back of the warehouse, so you’re forced to venture past hundreds of cleverly placed impulse buys, the three-pound seasoned rotisserie chicken is Costco’s biggest loss leader. It’s hot, juicy, perfectly seasoned, and cheaper than a regular grocery store’s raw chicken.
Many will swear to you that there is an unofficial Costco law that states you cannot exit the store without a plastic dome of this poultry at the bottom of your cart.
Maple syrup
Canadians consider real maple syrup a staple. Buying little bottles at your local grocery store is not an option because they are expensive.
Costco sells huge one-litre bottles of 100% pure Grade A maple syrup. It’s amber in colour and fantastic for drenching your weekend pancakes in, stirring into your coffee or using to glaze salmon. The quality is so good and the price so low you’ll never feel guilty about using it freely.
Croissants
Flaky, buttery croissants in the bakery section are an item many shoppers end up buying every time. Made fresh every morning in-store, these are cooked to golden-brown perfection on the outside, with a tender, pillow-like center you can only dream of finding at most bakery boutiques and for a fraction of the cost.
Hawkins Cheezies
Although they cover your fingers in neon-orange fuzz, Cheezies are a snack Canadians love. Canadian Cheezies are not like their puffed-up cousins south of the border. They’re crunchy, irregularly shaped pieces of corn-snack dough cooked with real aged Canadian cheddar cheese.
They’re salty, greasy, and gloriously delicious. And they’ve been made the same way for decades. At Costco, they come in a giant outer bag filled with individual snack-size bags, so you can easily toss them in your kids’ lunchboxes, throw them in your car for road trips, or curl up on the couch for a night of Netflix and Cheezies.
Toilet paper
Wedging your way down Costco’s central aisles means weaving around dozens of other shoppers, yanking out a cartful of those giant, cube-shaped bricks of Kirkland Signature bath tissue. It’s the king of bulk shopping.
A deluxe, double-ply option that will supply your bathroom for months, if not years. Watching one of those huge packages slide into the bottom rack of your cart is a proud testament to your Costco accomplishment.
Berries
Costco’s walk-in produce fridge is absurdly freezing. But Canadians aren’t afraid to stick their hands in frozen buckets to grab enormous clamshells of strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.
Costco’s fresh fruit is by far superior to what local grocery stores offer in quality, quantity, and price point. Since most Canadian families consume fruit at an alarming rate (smoothies in the morning, snacks for school, baking sweets, etc.), they always stock up on a big container of colourful berries each week.
Bacon
Costco Bacon is another product many Canadians grab on every trip. There are many who believe Costco offers better bacon for lower prices than your local grocer.
Costco’s bacon comes in such large quantities that it’s great for families or for those who just love to hoard bacon in bulk. Lots of people buy multiple packs and separate them into freezer bags so they always have bacon available.
Balderson Cheddar
Canada loves their cheese. That’s why Costco regularly offers top-shelf dairy at affordable prices with deliveries of giant blocks of Balderson heritage award-winning cheddar cheese.
This aged, sharp, creamy (yet a bit crumbly) Ontario cheese is fantastic on your classic grilled cheese or as part of a fancy weekend charcuterie platter.
Butter
Whether used for baking, pan-frying steaks, or slathering on fresh-from-the-bakery croissants, butter is a necessary staple in Canadian households, not just a fancy cooking item. With grocery store prices reaching sky-high rates for just one 454 g package, stocking up on Costco’s multi-packs is essential if you’re a frequent home-cook.
Paper towels
Besides the large economy pack of toilet paper, you will always find big family-sized rolls of paper towels near the register. These absorbent and strong toilet paper roll packs can protect you from household spills, pet messes and even wiping down the garage floor. Buying them in bulk saves you from making frantic, overpriced trips to the local corner store.
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