Costco rotisserie chickens are a loss leader in grocery terms.  The birds bring in customers and many leave stores with more than just a chicken for dinner.  Despite the bargain for customers (who buy nearly 100-million rotisserie chickens every year from just Costco) the company is looking to get a better grip on costs.

Costco plans to launch its own chicken processing plant.  In Nebraska.  You can read more by clicking here.

So much so many producers are breeding bigger birds but Costco is limited by oven size and by holding the line on price.

Americans are eating more chicken than ever before.  We’ve been bombarded with media messages telling us it’s a healthier alternative than red meat.  Chicken was once considered a rare delicacy (the 1800s) but in the 20th Century it became a cheap and common source of protein.

Environmentalists don’t approve of how modern chicken is mostly raised.  They call it cruel for the birds.  If the animals actually thought in language it would be “Food, food, food.  Poop, poop, poop!”

The other objections are centered on the volume of nitrogen associated with chicken production and, yet.  We keep buying chicken.

So much so many producers are breeding bigger birds but Costco is limited by oven size and by holding the line on price.  The Nebraska facility is expected to be massive and was selected for centrally located geography and proximity to chicken feed sources.

According to CNN, Costco competitors are paying close attention.  If the company can make the transition work others are sure to imitate the effort.  Costco has some previous experience.  It took over its hotdog production 10 years ago.

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