Costco loaf dubbed 'addicting' sparks buying frenzy
Seasonal Butter Cinnamon Sugar Loaf, priced at $11.34, and other bakery items are selling out as shoppers praise the treat and small snack brands gain cult followings
Costco’s seasonal Butter Cinnamon Sugar Loaf has become a viral retail sensation, with shoppers describing the pound cake as "delicious," "addicting" and even "evil" as loaves disappear from store shelves nationwide. Priced at $11.34, the item has prompted customers to rush bakery cases and post enthusiastic reactions online.
The loaf has prompted a flurry of social-media conversation and in-store sellouts since being spotted in Costco locations over the summer. Reddit users shared one-liners about roommates devouring the cake and called it "magic" for how quickly it vanishes from carts. Daily Mail coverage highlighted the wave of praise and the tone of urgency among shoppers trying to snag the seasonal product.
The loaf is one of several seasonal bakery items drawing crowds. Other limited-time offerings noted by shoppers include a $21.99 pumpkin cheesecake, caramel apple pastry bites and pumpkin muffins. Year-round favorites such as tiramisu cheesecake, a $12.99 apple pie and peppermint bark continue to sell well, according to customer posts and in-store observations.
Snacks beyond the bakery have also gained followings. Bags of candy bites from Edward Marc Chocolatier — including a thin-mint-inspired flavor — have become cult favorites, with the thin-mint version singled out by shoppers for its crispy chocolate-mint center. The candies, sold in 5.5-ounce bags for roughly $6 to $7.50, have reportedly flown off shelves in states including California, Texas and Virginia.
The loaf frenzy and rising popularity of seasonal items come as Costco trials other customer-facing changes. Executive members now receive an extra hour of shopping access before Gold Star members and are offered earlier access to free samples, a move the company has implemented in some locations to reward higher-tier members.
Shoppers and social platforms have driven the narrative around scarcity and desirability. Posts detail quick sellouts and multiple trips to stores in search of the loaf and other seasonal treats. Costco has not issued a public statement about the loaf’s availability beyond standard store-level restocking, and product assortments can vary by warehouse and region.
Retail analysts and observers say seasonal bakery items often spur short-term spikes in foot traffic for warehouse clubs, though such commentary did not appear in the initial reporting. For customers, the immediate effect has been a steady stream of social-media-driven purchases, with members sharing tips and locations where items were found.
As the holiday and fall season approaches, Costco’s bakery and snack assortments are likely to remain focal points for shoppers seeking limited-run products. In the meantime, members intent on trying the Butter Cinnamon Sugar Loaf or the Edward Marc candies may need to check local warehouses frequently and act quickly when new deliveries arrive.