Who Makes Costco's Food Court Hot Dogs?
NEWS
By ANN MEYER
Costco’s hot dog costs $1.50 and includes a 20-ounce soda with a free refill. The rate hasn’t been raised since it was set in 1984, so it’s no surprise the deal has a huge fanbase.
However, since co-founder and former CEO Jim Sinegal refused to raise the price, Costco incurred losses. Luckily, they found a way to make it work, all while improving the quality.
As per CNN, the dogs were initially sold by a cart outside the warehouse, and they were all-beef kosher dogs supplied by two national Kosher brands, including Hebrew National.
The brand’s partnership with Costco continued until 2009. The chain then switched to its own meat processing facilities and began making its Kirkland Signature brand hot dogs.
This helped prevent supply chain issues and keep the prices low. Today, the Kirkland franks are made at the original Tracy, California location and a location in Morris, Illinois.
While the hot dogs are no longer kosher, they are larger. Weighing in at 4.4 ounces, the Costco food court frank is more than a quarter pound, providing even more beef than before.
Costco warehouses still sell packs of Hebrew National hot dogs, but you can also buy uncooked Kirkland brand beef franks in-store if you’d like to enjoy a Costco hot dog at home.
