Costco shoppers will notice a big change in the food court menu on their next visit. The popular Mixed Berry Smoothie that many customers loved is being replaced with a new Strawberry Banana Smoothie. This new drink keeps some familiar ingredients like strawberries, pear puree, and pineapple juice, but swaps out blackberries and açaí for banana puree, creating an entirely different flavor profile.
Early reviews for the smoothie have been VERY positive with many people taking to X and Reddit to express their satisfaction with it. The only knock on it may be that the strawberry flavor seems to overwhelm the banana a bit, but otherwise people seem happy with the change.
The new smoothie maintains the refreshing quality that made the original popular, but delivers a more tropical taste with the addition of banana.
The rollout of this new smoothie is happening gradually across Costco locations. Some stores already feature the Strawberry Banana Smoothie on their menu, while others are still in transition. For loyal fans of the original fruit smoothie, this change might come as a surprise, but it represents Costco’s ongoing efforts to refresh their food court offerings.
For anyone visiting Costco in the coming weeks, this new smoothie might be worth adding to your shopping trip to decide for yourself if it lives up to its predecessor.
Introducing the New Strawberry Banana Smoothie at Costco’s Food Court
Costco has recently updated its food court menu by introducing the Strawberry Banana Smoothie, replacing the previous Fruit Smoothie. This new beverage combines a blend of fruit purees and juices, aiming to offer a refreshing option for shoppers.
Ingredients and Nutritional Information
The Strawberry Banana Smoothie is crafted from a variety of fruit ingredients, including:
- Pear puree
- Strawberries
- Deionized pineapple juice concentrate
- Apple puree
- Banana puree
- Pear puree concentrate
Additional components comprise water, sugar, citric acid, fruit and vegetable juice concentrates for color, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), pectin, and natural flavors.
In terms of nutrition, a 435g serving provides:
- Calories: 320
- Total Carbohydrates: 77g
- Dietary Fiber: 6g
- Total Sugars: 69g
- Added Sugars: 25g
- Protein: 2g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Calcium: 34mg
- Iron: 2mg
- Potassium: 633mg
Customer Reactions and Feedback
The introduction of the Strawberry Banana Smoothie has elicited a range of responses from Costco patrons. Some customers appreciate the new flavor combination, noting its balanced sweetness and fruity profile. Others, however, have expressed concerns, particularly regarding the increased sugar content compared to the previous Fruit Smoothie. The inclusion of banana has also been a point of contention for those who prefer the original berry-centric blend.
Context of the Menu Change
This update is part of Costco’s ongoing efforts to refresh and diversify its food court offerings. The company periodically revises its menu to introduce new items and respond to customer preferences. While such changes aim to enhance the dining experience, they can also lead to mixed reactions, as seen with the current smoothie transition.
As with any menu update, individual tastes and health considerations play a significant role in how new items are received. Customers are encouraged to review nutritional information and ingredient lists to make informed choices that align with their dietary preferences and needs.
Key Takeaways
- Costco’s new Strawberry Banana Smoothie replaces the Mixed Berry Smoothie in food courts nationwide.
- The updated recipe features banana puree instead of blackberries and açaí while keeping strawberries, pear puree, and pineapple juice.
- The smoothie rollout is happening gradually, with some locations already serving the new version while others will transition soon.
The New Strawberry Banana Smoothie Experience
Costco’s latest food court offering brings a refreshing twist to their beverage lineup. The new Strawberry Banana Smoothie delivers a fruity experience with simple ingredients and a flavor profile that appeals to many shoppers.
Flavor Profile and Ingredients
The Strawberry Banana Smoothie combines several fruity elements for a sweet and refreshing taste. According to available information, the new smoothie contains water, pear puree, strawberries, and deionized pineapple juice concentrate.
Unlike the previous Mixed Berry Smoothie which featured blackberries, this new version focuses on the classic strawberry-banana combination. The pear puree creates a smooth base while the pineapple juice adds a tropical sweetness without overpowering the main flavors.
The texture appears to be consistent with what Costco shoppers expect from a food court smoothie – thick enough to enjoy through a straw but not so dense that it’s difficult to drink. Many customers on social media have already shared positive reactions to the new offering.
Nutritional Value Comparison
The nutritional profile of the new Strawberry Banana Smoothie likely differs from its predecessor. While specific calorie counts aren’t provided in the search results, fruit smoothies typically contain natural sugars from the fruit ingredients.
The pear puree base provides fiber while the strawberries offer vitamin C and antioxidants. The pineapple juice adds additional vitamins but also contributes to the overall sugar content.
For shoppers concerned about additives, it’s worth noting that the ingredient list appears relatively straightforward with real fruit components rather than artificial flavors. The smoothie seems to maintain the Costco food court tradition of offering simple, crowd-pleasing options at their characteristic value price point.
Impact on Costco Food Court Offerings
Costco’s decision to replace their Mixed Berry Smoothie with a strawberry banana version represents a significant shift in their food court menu strategy. This change affects both product variety and customer experience at the warehouse retailer’s popular dining area.
Replacing the Mixed Berry Smoothie
The new strawberry banana smoothie maintains some ingredients from its predecessor while introducing new flavors. According to search results, the new drink keeps the apple and pear puree base along with pineapple juice and strawberries. However, it notably removes blackberries and açaí from the formula.
The replacement appears to be rolling out gradually across Costco locations. Some warehouses have already made the switch while others are expected to follow soon.
This change follows Costco’s pattern of occasionally updating their food court menu. In recent years, they’ve adjusted offerings like their popular chocolate chip cookie and introduced new items while discontinuing others.
Menu Diversity and Customer Reaction
Customer response to the smoothie replacement has been mixed. Search results indicate fans are “divided” over the change, with many expressing disappointment about losing the original berry flavor profile.
The food court continues to maintain its core offerings alongside the new smoothie. Popular items like the ice cream cone remain staples that Costco members count on during their shopping trips.
This menu adjustment reflects Costco’s balancing act between innovation and tradition. While they introduce new items, they must consider customer loyalty to existing favorites.
Food courts also continue offering packaged snacks near checkout areas, including various potato chips and tortilla chips that complement the prepared food options. The smoothie change represents just one part of Costco’s ongoing food service evolution.
Strategic Shifts in Costco’s Product Assortment
Costco continues to evolve its food court offerings, with the recent smoothie replacement highlighting the company’s ongoing strategy to refresh its product mix based on consumer preferences and operational efficiency.
From Bulk Goods to Gourmet Selections
Costco’s decision to replace their popular Mixed Berry Smoothie with a Strawberry Banana version represents a calculated product shift within their food court lineup. The new smoothie maintains some key ingredients from the original—including pear puree and pineapple juice—while swapping blackberries for bananas.
This change follows Costco’s pattern of gradually upgrading food options while maintaining their signature value pricing at $2.99. The warehouse giant regularly evaluates its product mix, removing underperforming items to make room for new offerings.
Customer reactions have been mixed, with some shoppers expressing disappointment over losing the original recipe containing açaí and blackberries. Social media comments show many customers “want the OG back.”
These product shifts reflect Costco’s broader strategy of balancing traditional bulk offerings with more premium, health-conscious selections that appeal to changing consumer tastes while keeping operational simplicity in their busy food courts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many Costco shoppers have questions about the new strawberry banana smoothie. Here are answers to common questions about this food court menu change.
What is the current beverage offering that has replaced the mixed berry smoothie in Costco’s food court?
Costco has replaced their Mixed Berry Smoothie with a new Strawberry Banana Smoothie. This new drink option is now available at Costco food courts nationwide. The change appears to be part of Costco’s occasional menu updates.
Can you provide nutritional information for the new strawberry banana smoothie available at Costco?
While complete nutritional information isn’t available in the search results, the smoothie likely contains similar calorie and sugar content to the previous fruit smoothie. Costco typically displays full nutritional information at their food court counters.
Shoppers with dietary concerns should check with their local Costco for specific nutritional details.
How has customer reception been to the introduction of the strawberry banana smoothie at Costco?
Customer reactions have been mixed. According to the search results, some Costco fans are already calling the new smoothie a hit. Others may miss the original Mixed Berry Smoothie they were accustomed to.
Social media posts show people trying the new drink and sharing their thoughts, with many excited to sample the new offering.
Are there any plans to bring back the original fruit mixed berry smoothie to the Costco food court menu?
There is no information in the search results about plans to bring back the original Mixed Berry Smoothie. The change appears to be permanent rather than a temporary menu rotation.
Costco rarely reintroduces discontinued food court items, though customer feedback sometimes influences their menu decisions.
What are the ingredients in Costco’s new strawberry banana smoothie?
The ingredients in the new Strawberry Banana Smoothie include water, pear puree, strawberries, and deionized pineapple juice concentrate. Despite the name, there’s no mention of banana in the ingredient list from the search results.
The smoothie retains some ingredients from the previous version, like apple and pear puree, pineapple juice, and strawberries. However, it no longer contains blackberries.
Is the strawberry banana smoothie at Costco a permanent addition to the food court menu or a limited-time offering?
Based on the search results, the Strawberry Banana Smoothie appears to be a permanent replacement for the Mixed Berry Smoothie. The wording in the announcements suggests this is a menu change rather than a limited-time offer.
Costco typically introduces new food court items as permanent offerings unless specifically marketed as seasonal or limited-time items.
