Costco has changed the packaging of its $4.99 rotisserie chicken — and some shoppers are voicing their annoyance

• Costco has gradually been switching the packaging for its rotisserie chicken from trays with lids to plastic bags.
• The bags, referred to as "bachelor's handbags" in Australia, are proving divisive among shoppers.
• "There's just something unappealing about picking up a bagged chicken," a Reddit user wrote.

Costco has been rolling out new the packaging for its coveted $4.99 rotisserie chicken, and some loyal customers aren't impressed with the change.

The warehouse chain previously sold the Kirkland Signature chicken on black plastic trays with transparent plastic lids. It has been switching to plastic bags with carry handles instead.

In the June edition of Costco Connection, the retailer's in-house members magazine, Costco estimated that the new packaging would save about 17 million pounds of plastic annually and enable it to use 1,000 fewer freight trucks a year because of the smaller size of the bags.

Many Reddit users speculated that the bags were much cheaper for Costco to buy, too.

The rotisserie chicken is a staple among many of the retailer's superfans. Costco said that it sold 137 million rotisserie chickens globally in the 2023 fiscal year.

'I'd rather pay more than deal with this nonsense'

"Got one yesterday from my local Costco," one Reddit user wrote. "Was not impressed. The other packaging was way better."

"There's just something unappealing about picking up a bagged chicken," another person wrote.

"Hate them," someone else wrote. "I'd rather pay more than deal with this nonsense."

Some Reddit users said that the bags weren't sealed properly. They also expressed annoyance that, unlike when it was sold on trays, they couldn't carve slices of the chicken directly in the bag.

It was easier to find the biggest chickens when they were served on trays, too, some users said. "I've watched chicken man load the chickens and watch for the one so big he struggles to shut the lid," one Reddit user wrote. "That's the one I buy."

The new packaging is proving a pain for staff, too, according to some Reddit users.

One Reddit user who said they worked at Costco said that staff had to use tongs to put the chickens in the bags, which was leading to wrist pain.

Bachelor's handbags

But some people see the benefits of the bag. They said it's easier to carry to their car, means they don't burn their fingers on the container, and takes up less room in their fridge. Some said the bag was also great for storing leftovers in the freezer.

They're also in use at other grocery stores. Walmart, Whole Foods, Kroger, and Fred Meyer, for example, sell rotisserie chicken in plastic bags. In Australia, rotisserie chicken in a bag is sometimes referred to as a "bachelor's handbag."

Reddit users have advised placing the rotisserie bag in another bag from the meat or produce departments to reduce the likelihood of it leaking in the car, though some pointed out that this partly defeats the point of introducing packaging with less plastic.