Lightning Round: Costco Brisket, Corvette Dreams & Cheerios Chaos
Ever wonder what retail experts actually buy at Costco or what cars they dream about driving? This lightning round reveals the personal side of our A&M retail gurus, from brisket smoking tips to the shocking number of Cheerios varieties on shelves. Brought to you by A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios, Clear Demand, and Ocampo Capital.
For the full episode, head here: https://youtu.be/vjOmUkH_Vhw?si=9f8KlsQw8yUdPqan
#cheerios #corvettes #costco
All right, you guys, let's go to the lightning round.
Speaker AWe're going to continue a Costco conversation.
Speaker ABryson, this first one's going to you, but Brooks will let you answer it, too, because of your love of Costco, the hot dogs, and all of the above.
Speaker ABryson, Costco is in the news a lot this week.
Speaker AWhat's your favorite Costco product, and is it worth getting inside Costco an extra hour early to procure it?
Speaker BYeah, no.
Speaker BAbsolutely.
Speaker BGreat question.
Speaker BSo an exciting one, too.
Speaker BSo, you know, first off, caveat that with I have four children under the age of 14, so I am in Costco a lot.
Speaker BRight.
Speaker BQuite a bit.
Speaker BIf I had to break it down, though, what's my absolute favorite item to buy there?
Speaker BYou know, I really go for the brisket.
Speaker BI've really, you know, kind of got into smoking meats over the past number of years and really trying to hone that as a skill.
Speaker BYou know, love all things Texas when it comes to barbecue, and in trying to emulate that as best I can in Arizona, albeit, you know, it's still a struggle and still learning, but that is probably, you know, my favorite item when I go shop there amongst, you know, a multitude of others.
Speaker BThe shift to offering, you know, one hour earlier shopping convenience, you know, for the business members, you know, is that a value proposition that I would go in to buy that product early enough?
Speaker BNo.
Speaker BBut, you know, it is compelling enough for me to avoid the congestion in the lines.
Speaker CYes.
Speaker BYou know, given the, you know, affinity I have for Costco and the frequency I'm there, I kind of have an endearing term for Costco.
Speaker BI call it Zombieland.
Speaker BYou get in there in high peak areas, you get everybody just meandering around with their cards, trying all the samples.
Speaker BYou know, if you just want to get in and get out, becomes a bit of a challenge.
Speaker BSo, yeah, the ability to kind of avoid that congestion would be compelling enough for me.
Speaker AAll right, Brooks, are you.
Speaker AIs the hot dog your favorite product, or do you have another product that you'd buy?
Speaker DHey, my family still goes to Costco just for lunch.
Speaker DWe don't.
Speaker DDon't even go back.
Speaker DWell, maybe lunch.
Speaker DAnd the produce.
Speaker DWell, maybe lunch, produce and the gas.
Speaker DThose three things.
Speaker AAll right.
Speaker CNice, nice.
Speaker CYou know, the interesting, subtle theme of this, too, is, you know, makes me wonder if Costco's getting severe customer survey feedback or data that the parking lots are too congested, you know, and it's.
Speaker CIt's hampering them.
Speaker CIt's.
Speaker CIt's potentially a real tell here all right, question two to Bryson.
Speaker CGM unveiled the quickest Corvette ever with its ZR1X hypercar, which goes from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than two seconds.
Speaker CSeconds earlier this week.
Speaker CWhere does the Corvette rank for you in the pantheon of great automobiles?
Speaker BSo, Brooks, I think you were the one passionate about this actually, given your affinity for automobiles.
Speaker BSo I'll let you take that one.
Speaker DHey, for me, Nothing beats the 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am from Knight Rider.
Speaker DDoes anybody remember that?
Speaker COf course.
Speaker COf course.
Speaker DPontiac Firebird.
Speaker DOr maybe even my first car, which was a 1978 baby blue Ford Fairmont station wagon.
Speaker AOh, my God.
Speaker DThat had a aftermarket JVC cassette deck.
Speaker AOh, my gosh.
Speaker COh, my God.
Speaker CI think I'd skip that one, but I take the Corvette Stingray every day of the week and twice on Sundays.
Speaker CGo ahead, Bryson.
Speaker BSo.
Speaker BSo, Brooks, fun fact that I don't think we've talked about, but you know, my cousin's husband was involved with the reboot of Knight Rider in lead and they shift the Ford, the.
Speaker BThe Mustang in that regards.
Speaker BWhat are your thoughts there?
Speaker DWell, you just created some sadness for me.
Speaker CJust died a little bit.
Speaker CJust died a little bit.
Speaker DI'm headed to Costco now.
Speaker AOh, my gosh.
Speaker AWell, I have a.
Speaker AI have another option for you, brooks.
Speaker AQuestion number three.
Speaker AThis year, McDonald's is celebrating 50 years of the Egg McMuffin.
Speaker AIn case that sounds more appealing to you than the hot dog, if not the egg McMuffin, describe your perfect breakfast sandwich.
Speaker DOh, hey, I'll be right back.
Speaker DI'm going out right now to get an egg McMuffin.
Speaker DI want that.
Speaker DHey, from New Jersey.
Speaker DEverything starts and ends with Bagel Masters Egg everything bagel.
Speaker DThey used to sell T shirts at Bagel Masters with the words I love gluten.
Speaker CNice.
Speaker CI think I'm with you.
Speaker CMy perfect breakfast sandwich also has a bagel.
Speaker CAll right, last one.
Speaker CCheerios.
Speaker CHas recently pulled and discontinued Honey Nut Cheerios, Medley Crunch, Chocolate peanut butter Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios Minis from its from store shelves.
Speaker CLet's see.
Speaker CBryson, I think this one goes to you.
Speaker CIf not, we'll just figure it out.
Speaker CHow saddened are you by this news?
Speaker CAnd given the choice, are you more straight up Cheerios or more Honey Nut?
Speaker BSo not affected by this one.
Speaker BSo I am straight up Honey Nut Cheerios.
Speaker BBowl of Honey Nut Cheerios.
Speaker BYou know, if I'm feeling crazy, a little sliced banana in there.
Speaker BIt's kind of the perfect little breakfast if I'm on the go I think, you know, what I am saddened by and surprised by at the same time is just the proliferation of SKUs that you know, Cheerios has introduced.
Speaker BI think, you know, last looking at the website, there's over 23 different varieties.
Speaker BAgain being that long term, you know, loyalist to Honey Nut, I didn't realize their extensive, the extensivity of their portfolio went that deep.
Speaker BSo it was a bit surprised to see kind of the, the number of extensions.
Speaker BBut I think also too it speaks to, you know, them staying close to the consumer trends and understanding what's top of mind for consumer.
Speaker BI think, you know, recently they've launched into a protein based cereal so capturing it on that health and wellness aspect.
Speaker BSo I think, you know, kudos to Cheerios for staying relevant, staying top of mind, you know, being willing to take those risks and identify potential new opportunities in test and learn.
Speaker BSo I think it's a natural evolution.
Speaker BAm I saddened by it?
Speaker BYou know, not directly because I think it also speaks to, you know, them being at the forefront of trying new options and bringing different flavor combinations forward.
Speaker CYou and me both.
Speaker CI went on the website yesterday too.
Speaker CI couldn't believe how many SKUs they had and yeah, and interesting news from General Mills overnight too that they're going to remove artificial colors and flavorings in their products by I think 2027 if I'm not mistaken.
Speaker CSo yeah, a lot happening in the food industry right now.