In a sea of economic uncertainty, Costco has long stood out as a lighthouse. In four decades, its hot-dog-and-a-drink combo has stayed glued to a $1.50 price tag. Equally comforting is the wholesaler’s $5 rotisserie chicken—a three-pound ready-to-go meal that puts dinner on the table for less than the price of a beer in most New York City bars.
But recent signs have indicated that even Costco might be fighting against the current. Earlier this month, its new finance chief announced the company was raising its member prices for the first time in seven years—a $5 increase for its basic plan and a $10 bump to its executive membership.
Now, the bulk retailer is giving another indication of a serious disturbance in the natural order: a new 150-meal “apocalypse bucket,” lasting up to 25 years that’s appeared online and in stores.
Available on Costco’s website for $80, the Readywise Emergency Food Bucket includes 25,280 calories of freeze-dried security for whatever the next two-and-a-half decades have to throw at the world. Inside are 80 entrees, 30 breakfasts, and 40 drink servings, with a variety of meals like pasta alfredo, teriyaki rice, and “potatoes and chicken flavored” pot pie.
“This assortment isn’t just a temporary fix—it’s a long-term solution. It’s a tangible expression of your dedication to ensuring you and your loved ones are cared for, no matter what lies ahead,” the product description reads.
Jeffrey Eisner, a cookbook author with a popular food page on Instagram, featured the bucket in a video on his account. The post has received almost 50,000 likes and prompted a seemingly infinite supply of jokes in the comment section.
“I mean with this inflation I just may go buy those for regular life while finishing school,” one person commented.
“Does Costco know something?” another user said.
Although the doomsday care package has become something of a meme, the company behind the bucket is dead serious. Readwise sells a whole range of emergency food supplies, according to its website. Its products range from single-serving meals and instant coffee packets for a few bucks, to a 4,320 serving, long-term food cache that costs over $10,000.
“Whether it’s a natural disaster, power outage, civil unrest, or unexpected crisis, having reliable access to nutritious and delicious food can make all the difference,” Readwise’s website states.