Costco is finally bringing its bakery counters into the digital age. The warehouse giant announced plans to retire its infamous paper order forms for custom cakes and deli platters, replacing them with a sleek mobile app and website ordering system.
During Costco’s Q1 2026 earnings call, CEO Ron Vachris expressed enthusiasm about the digital upgrade. “Very excited about what we have coming in the app,” Vachris told investors. “We’ve got ordering cakes and deli trays online coming. So many of the things that we’ve heard from our members that could be a little bit clunky are now moving to a digital state, and we’re seeing great adoption right out of the chute.”
No More Double Trips
Anyone who’s ever ordered a custom cake from Costco knows the drill: drive to the store, fill out a paper form, then make a second trip to pick up the finished product. That cumbersome process has long been a pain point for members of the members-only retailer.
The new system, which began rolling out in select markets like Salt Lake City in August 2025, allows customers to place orders through the Costco app or website, with the company expecting nationwide availability by the end of 2026.
But what exactly can customers order? According to the company, the digital platform will offer a full range of sheet cake options and customizable cakes with choices for sizes, shapes, flavors, designs, and inscriptions. Orders are typically ready for pickup within 24-48 hours after submission.
Customer Complaints Addressed
The move to digital ordering directly addresses years of customer complaints about the inconvenience of the paper system. Tired of making two separate trips just to secure a birthday cake? Costco apparently heard you loud and clear.
The transition represents part of a broader digital transformation at the warehouse retailer, which has historically been slower than competitors to embrace e-commerce innovations. The new “Order Grocery/Bakery” feature will be integrated into the existing Costco app, according to industry sources.
Will this seemingly minor update make a difference for Costco’s bottom line? Possibly. The retailer’s famous sheet cakes have developed something of a cult following over the years, with their affordable pricing and generous sizing making them popular choices for office parties, birthdays, and other celebrations.
Analysts suggest the convenience factor could drive increased sales in Costco’s bakery and deli departments, which have long been considered key traffic drivers for the warehouse stores.
For Costco loyalists who’ve been begging for this update for years, the change can’t come soon enough. Though the full rollout won’t be complete until late 2026, the initial response in test markets suggests members are embracing the digital shift with the same enthusiasm they reserve for those $1.50 hot dog and soda combos.
In a retail landscape where digital convenience is increasingly the norm, Costco’s cake ordering update may seem overdue — but for a company that still doesn’t accept digital coupons and maintains a deliberately limited online presence, it represents a significant step toward modernization without abandoning the in-store experience that defines the brand.
