The Joy of Costco
Book Summary by discussion leader Melissa Potter
Every BJI August 6, 2025 BJI attendee had a story about Costco. Everything positive, but for a concern about salt content in the deli chickens.1
The Joy of Costco by David and Susan Schwartz
Why a book about Costco? The inside flap on the book jacket says: David and Susan Schwartz live in one of NYC’s smallest apartments (450 Square feet), yet are two of Costco’s biggest fans. Since 2016, they have travelled over 200,000 miles on a whirlwind tour around the globe to bring you a fun-filled, behind-the-scenes, eye-popping look at what makes Costco so special.
It goes on to say that they did this without sponsorship from Costco, and that their journey enabled them to figure out how Costco manages to DO THE RIGHT THING—even when no one is looking—and still make money.
This statement about doing the right thing, I believe, is why Gail chose this book for the Books of Jewish Interest. After all, isn’t doing the right thing what Torah is all about? Not only does the Torah describe the history of the Jewish people, it also proscribes the laws about doing the right thing. If you find your neighbor’s bull, you are required to return it to them, and if the owner is unknown, you must bring the bull home and care for it until the owner comes looking for it. And you do know the owner, you must not hide from them. Do the right thing.
Melissa shared the joy of Costco pies. Not the famous pumpkin pie sold September to December, but a highly seasonal and delicious apple berry pie,. Only a few small pieces were left.
Read Melissa’s full summary here
Costco rotisserie chickens are injected with a salt (saline) solution to enhance flavor, juiciness, and tenderness. This injection process ensures that the meat remains moist during cooking and gives it the signature salty taste that many consumers enjoy.
The salt solution often contains additional ingredients such as sodium phosphate, modified food starch, sugar, carrageenan, and sometimes isolated soy protein. This mixture can contribute to a relatively high sodium content—about 460–550 mg per 3-ounce serving—so those watching their sodium intake should be aware. Food Republic
Photos by Martin Kessel