Why is Costco selling emergency food supply?

In recent years, Costco has expanded their selection of emergency and survival food kits. These kits contain freeze-dried or dehydrated meals, as well as other supplies to help families survive natural disasters or other emergencies. There are several potential reasons why Costco is choosing to sell these types of products.

Increasing Natural Disasters

One major reason is likely the increasing number and severity of natural disasters around the world. Climate change has contributed to more extreme weather events like hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. For example, in 2021 the U.S. experienced 20 separate billion-dollar disasters, shattering the previous annual record of 16 events in 2011 and 2017. Many people worry that natural disasters will continue to increase, so they want to be prepared with emergency food.

Notable Natural Disasters in Recent Years

• Hurricane Harvey – 2017, caused $125 billion in damages
• California Wildfires – 2020, over 4 million acres burned
• Hurricane Ida – 2021, caused $75 billion in damages
• Midwest Derecho – 2020, caused $11 billion in damages
• Western Droughts/Heatwaves – 2020 & 2021, severely impacted food and water supply

Costco wants to provide food that can help families survive these types of devastating events when normal food supplies may be cut off.

Fears of Social Unrest

Some consumers may also fear the breakdown of society due to war, pandemic, or some other catastrophe. There are ongoing worries about political tensions between nations escalating into worldwide conflict. The COVID-19 pandemic gave people a glimpse of how quickly normal life can be disrupted.

Having emergency food reserves provides a sense of security if store shelves were to suddenly go empty for an extended period. Whether due to quarantines, supply chain issues, power grid failure, or other societal instability, people want to know they can feed their family. Costco sells long-lasting emergency food as a safeguard.

General Preparedness Mindset

Beyond just disasters and social unrest, there is a growing movement towards emergency preparedness in general. Being prepared with adequate food, water, first aid, and other essentials is seen as responsible. Households never know when an unforeseen disruption might occur, from job loss to illness or some other personal emergency.

Many people like the peace of mind of having a food supply that could sustain their family for days or weeks, if needed. While hoping they never have to use it, they appreciate Costco making this kind of emergency preparation convenient and affordable.

Business Opportunity

Finally, Costco likely sees emergency food kits as a profitable business opportunity. As concerns over natural disasters and social instability grow, the market for emergency preparation products expands as well. Costco wants to meet this rising consumer demand.

Emergency food kits have become big business. According to Statista, the survival food and emergency preparedness market is projected to reach $806 billion globally by 2026. Other major retailers like Walmart, Sam’s Club, and Amazon have also expanded their selection of disaster preparedness supplies to get a piece of this growing market.

Projected Global Emergency Food and Preparedness Market Value:

Year	Projected Market Value
2021	$353 billion
2026	$806 billion

As a warehouse retailer aiming to be a one-stop shop for consumers, Costco does not want to miss out on this opportunity. Offering a wide selection of emergency food kits fits right within its business model.

Types of Emergency Food Kits at Costco

For consumers looking to be prepared, Costco sells a variety of emergency food supply kits at affordable prices. Here are some of the options available:

Mountain House Emergency Food Kits

• 3-day kit for $100
• 1-week kit for $200
• 2-week kit for $330

Mountain House is one of the most popular brands when it comes to emergency food. Their kits contain freeze-dried meals and come in ready-to-go buckets.

Wise Emergency Food Kits

• 60 serving starter kit for $100
• 120 serving deluxe kit for $150

Wise offers affordable emergency kits with hearty meals and vegetarian options. Their food comes in easy-to-store foil pouches.

Augason Farms Emergency Food Kits

• 30-day supply for 1 person – $150
• 30-day supply for 4 people – $380

Augason Farms specializes in freeze dried and dehydrated meals. Their emergency kits come in plastic buckets or waterproof tote bags.

Thrive Life Deluxe 1-Month Emergency Food Supply

• 104 total servings – $250

Thrive Life’s ready-made meals focus on high-protein recipes. Their kits include breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack options.

Key Features of Costco’s Emergency Food Kits

There are several key features that make Costco’s selection of emergency food kits useful for disaster preparation:

• Long shelf life – With freeze-dried and dehydrated foods, kits offer a shelf life of up to 25 years.
• Portability – Meals come in lightweight, easy to store containers.
• Affordability – Costco offers major bulk savings compared to buying individual packets.
• Quality – Reputable brands like Mountain House and Thrive Life.
• Variety – Different meal options and cuisines for balanced nutrition.

Consumers can shop Costco with confidence knowing they offer high-quality emergency food kits at prices far below smaller retailers. They provide great value for individuals and families wanting food security.

Criticisms of Emergency Food Supply Kits

While they remain very popular, emergency food kits also receive some criticism. Here are a few potential downsides:

• Some kits sacrifice taste. Freeze dried or dehydrated meals may not be very appetizing compared to fresh foods.
• Limited options. Most kits contain fairly basic calories and carbs but lack fresh fruit, vegetables and protein.
• Unnecessary for short disruptions. For power outages only lasting a few days, many people already have adequate non-perishable food.
• Water still needed. Having the emergency food is only part of the equation, clean water would also be vital.

While emergency food solves certain problems, consumers should be aware it still has limitations. Storing additional normal food and water is recommended for balance.

Storing Emergency Food Properly

To get the full shelf life out of emergency food kits, proper storage is important. Here are a few tips:

• Keep in a cool, dry location if possible, avoid temperature extremes.
• Make sure food is in air-tight packaging.
• Store away from direct sunlight, which can degrade nutrients over time.
• Place in containers like plastic bins to protect from pests.
• Consider adding oxygen absorbers to remove oxygen from containers.
• Rotate stock by eating older food first and replacing annually.

Proper storage extends the lifespan of emergency food. But even if stored under poor conditions, the food remains safe to eat, just may have less nutritional value when older.

Is Costco’s Emergency Food Worth Buying?

For consumers considering purchasing one of Costco’s emergency food supply kits, is it worth buying? Here are some pros and cons:

Potential Advantages

• Good value for extended disasters when normal food would run out.
• Peace of mind knowing you can feed family in an emergency.
• Wide selection of top brands and meal options.
• Affordable when buying in bulk sizes.
• Long 25 year shelf life.

Potential Disadvantages

• Questionable how appetizing the food is after years in storage.
• Need sufficient water supply for preparing meals.
• Large kits take up significant storage space.
• Some may see it as an overreaction for unlikely scenarios.

Everyone’s situation is different. For those living in disaster-prone regions or with families to support, emergency food kits make sense. For single people or those highly confident in government relief, they may not seem necessary. Overall the affordable prices at Costco make them worth considering for many households concerned about emergency preparation.

Conclusion

Costco providing a wide range of emergency food kits aligns with consumer fears over natural disasters and social instability. While hopefully never needed, having supplies to sustain a family during extended emergencies brings peace of mind. Costco offers great value for reputable brands so people can be ready for various “what if” scenarios. The affordable bulk pricing makes emergency food accessible for the preparedness-minded public.