By Jordan Valinsky | CNN
New York (CNN) — It’s formally the start of Lady Scout cookie season, but it surely’s the top for 2 flavors.
The Lady Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) introduced that the “S’mores” and “Toast-Yay!” cookies shall be discontinued after this yr, becoming a member of the “Raspberry Rally” taste in retirement.
GSUSA is probably going hoping that the heads up gained’t spark the web frenzy that occurred two years in the past, when the limited-edition raspberry cookie was extra fashionable than anticipated and bins have been resold on eBay for as a lot as $30 every.
The S’mores have been launched in 2017 and the French toast-inspired Toast-Yay rolled out in 2021. GSUSA didn’t reveal the rationale for the retirements, but it surely typically refreshes the lineup.
Sadly, not even Lady Scout cookies are immune from inflation: The worth of a field may value $7 — a rise of $1 from the final two years. The group final hiked costs to $6 in 2023, citing “rising production and material costs.” Previous to that, the cookies elevated in value from $4 to $5 a field in 2015.
Costs are set by the councils and are primarily based on a number of elements. “In some instances, councils are faced with the tough decision to raise prices, though prices have remained steady in many areas for a number of years,” a GSUSA spokesperson informed CNN.
Nationally, the costs vary from $4 to $7. Nonetheless, some specialty merchandise, like its gluten-free cookie varieties, may be priced greater “reflecting the cost of production,” the spokesperson mentioned.
The cookies, which additionally embrace the favored Skinny Mints, Samoas and Tagalongs, amongst others, shall be offered at cubicles starting this week and on-line on the GSUSA web site beginning on February 21 by April.
Promoting cookies brings in much-needed income for the financially distressed 112-year-old group. GSUSA lately voted to hike membership costs by 160% over the subsequent two years.
Final September, the Nationwide Council voted to hike dues to $45 for the 2026 membership yr and once more to $65 in 2027. Nonetheless, that’s a smaller enhance than the $85 per scout initially proposed.
Membership dues are the Lady Scouts’ largest income, producing $38 million in 2023 from practically 2 million complete members. Regardless of supplementing dues with philanthropy and licensing offers, the group is shedding cash, projecting working losses of $5.6 million in 2024.
