ISSAQUAH, WASH. - Costco plans for its signature free food samples to return to stores in mid-June. 

During the company’s quarterly earnings conference call last week, Richard Galanti, Costco’s chief financial officer, noted that samples had become a part of the Costco shopping experience that customers know and love.  

Samples left Costco floors in mid-March as the coronavirus pandemic gripped the country, but now the company is planning to restart the taste-testing in a safe way. 

“We're going to start doing some things in mid-June on a slow rollout basis in sampling,” said Galanti. “I can't tell you anymore, but needless to say it’s not going to be where you go and just pick up an open sample with your fingers."