Fox News correspondent Eric Schoen has joined Varney & Co. report President Donald Trump’s plan to restrict Iranian diplomats in New York, including a possible ban on shopping at Costco and Sam’s Club.
Costco’s famous $4.99 rotisserie chicken has enjoyed a cult following among shoppers for years, but Consumer Reports says Sam’s Club now has the best bird in the warehouse club business.
After evaluating rotisserie chickens from 10 grocery chains, warehouse clubs and major retailers, Consumer Reports named Sam’s Club’s Mark Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken its top overall choice, ahead of Costco’s Kirkland Signature poultry.
According to Consumer Reports, tasters preferred Sam’s Club for its flavor, seasoning and juicy texture. Costco’s chicken also made it to the publication’s top picks, although reviewers found the seasoning to be less consistent across samples.
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Rotisserie chickens are cooked in a commercial roasting oven. Consumer Reports rated chickens from warehouse clubs, grocery stores and major retailers based on taste, nutritional value and other factors. (Getty Images/Getty Images)
The results may come as a surprise to Costco shoppers, whose devotion to the retailer’s rotisserie chicken has helped make the $4.99 bird one of the company’s signature products.
Costco has kept prices steady for years despite inflation, using this popular item as one of its best-known offerings and attracting shoppers. The retailer’s loyal customers have even expressed disappointment over seemingly minor changes to the product, including a switch from plastic clamshell containers to bags in 2024.
Consumer Reports did not release the traditional first through 10th rankings. Instead, the company has grouped the chickens into those it believes are flavorful enough to be served on their own and those that are better suited for recipes such as soups, salads and sandwiches.
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Rows of freshly cooked rotisserie chickens are displayed for sale in a grocery store. Consumer Reports recently ranked rotisserie chicken from 10 major retailers, naming Sam’s Club as its top choice. (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Along with Sam’s Club and Costco, the first group included Stop & Shop, Walmart, Wegmans and Whole Foods Market. BJ’s Wholesale Club, Hannaford, ShopRite and The Fresh Market fell into the second category.
FOX Business has reached out to Costco and Sam’s Club for comment.
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A Costco store in Vallejo, California on May 29, 2025. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
The assessment went beyond taste. Consumer Reports purchased 10 to 13 chickens from each retailer at multiple stores and during shopping trips.
The researchers weighed each bird, compared sodium levels to nutrition labels, conducted blind taste tests, and tested the meat and packaging for chemicals commonly associated with plastic.
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Among the results of the Consumer Reports study is that it found no PFAS in any of the meat or packaging it tested. It was also found that many chickens weighed more than the net weight listed on their labels, with Whole Foods birds averaging about a pound heavier than advertised, effectively lowering their cost per pound.