Meet the Costco food development team! See some pictures of our studios at Starrett!

When I’m at the Starrett-Lehigh building, I love strolling through the different studios to see what’s going on.  In the kitchen area, I happened upon a meeting of the Costco food development team.  Lucinda Scala Quinn, our Senior Vice President, executive editorial director, food and entertaining, is overseeing the creative research and development of this line.  Her partner is Susan Testa, in charge of the business and merchandising side.  Lucinda is finding this latest venture fun and challenging.  Once the team agrees upon a food product, the recipe must be developed so that it can be prepared in massive batches.  It’s one thing, for example, preparing a pot of soup at home and quite another when it’s made in enormous vats.  We want everything as natural as can be without adding any stabilizers or preservatives.  Quality control means standing over those steaming kettles and tasting as the test soup cooks.  When Lucinda and her team feels that a particular formula works, then it’s full steam ahead.  The product is made, packaged, and shipped out to Costco.  I am proud to say that we are now selling 3 really delicious soups – tomato, vegetarian minestrone, and mushroom.  Look for them in the refrigerator section at Costco!

This is the Costco food development team.  Susan and Lucinda are at the left.
I was filled in about their progress.

This is Lucinda and Susan visiting the food
manufacturer.  As you can see, cleanliness and safety are paramount.

Look at this gorgeous silhouette!  They were photographing a new dishware product line.

A wedding cake shoot
 

Look at these beautiful sugared flowers – a real work of art!

Digital photography is amazing!  With no more film to develop, the photographer can show me what he just shot for our new craft line.  The photos looked great.

Comments

[s'mee]

I have to say that over the holidays I purchased (and the whole family enjoyed!) one of your organic hams. Yum. We slow cook our hams over 6 hours so the meat shreds to a lovely moist heap! Oh my heck it was delicious! And now soup? Heaven help us all.

Also, not a wedding in site. However I have every single one of your Martha Stewart Weddings Magazines. I just can't pass up those amazing cakes.

Someday....

[liisamarja]

i was wondering when you would venture into food products! if you ever run out of ideas (like that would ever happen!) i've got some great ones for frozen veggiemixes...

[Ghia]

Hello! I LOVE your blog---
We had the Minestrone soup for dinner tonight and it was DELICIOUS!
Thanks!!

[Pru]

Martha, these photos are wonderful. It is so nice to see what goes on behind the scenes. Your staff seem very happy, do you do team building exercises with them to build morale?

[PAULINE MUCCIACCIO]

Hi Martha,
Always find the behind the scene blogs informative & interesting. Enjoy seeing the process from the development stage, to production, and distribution.
Best,
Pauline Mucciaccio

[lucy]

The sugared flowers are definitely works of art themselves! Beautiful photos. Thank you for sharing the behind the scenes snapshots. It's amazing to see the whole process unfold for your products and development.

[Janette Baxter]

I usually avoid going to Costco but now I can't wait!

[matt]

Had you any previous idea that your behind the scenes posts would be so popular?

In a very roundabout way this just furthers the MSL brand by showing us how thorough, engaged and top-notch every little production is; not only on the finished pages but behind every scene, too.

I LOVE IT!

THANK YOU!

[Darrell White]

Hi MSO Team

Just wanted to let you know that I've been researching your company lately and I see good things ahead. I have officially opened an investment account and will be investing in MSO.

Keep up the good work.

Darrell White
Toronto, Canada

[PamperingBeki]

Martha, I just have to tell you that the top you were wearing on today's show looked wonderful on you! The green was so fresh and the style was so flattering with the cute bow at the neckline.

You always look nice, but today you looked exceptional!

[Desiree']

Martha,
I have always loved your products but honestly, I admire you so much as a businesswoman! Your are a genius and I am thrilled to see how your lovely team cooks up all these great ideas. Please continue to share what is going on behind the scenes, it's a great asset to an already wonderful blog!

[KellySchwark.com]

Once again, you and your team have so artfully blended practical information with insight and inspiration.

As a wife, a mother of a seven month old, and a “new-to-the-world-of-freelance” artist, I am eagerly awaiting your new food product line. In the past few months, I have found this cumbersome balancing act difficult to manage, but at least I know that I will be able to provide a healthy, quick and undoubtedly delicious meal for my family! Thanks in advance for the helpful hand!

Sincerely,
Kelly

[Kathy]

Martha,
Thanks for the guided tour of the whole process!
Kathy

[tina]

I adore your tomato soup available at Costco. Probably too much!

I've always wanted to work for MSLO, really and truly! Say the word and I'll pack my bags! :) The deal sealer was hot truly HOT Lucinda looks in that lovely factory garb!

Thanks again for the wonderful blog---- now, shall I start packing??

[Hardboiledegg]

gee

i wish

i had read your blog before attending the majorie kinnan rawlings commemorative stamp dedication ceremonies today in cross creek Florida
i would have told the kroger guy (retired) about the cosco coup

USPS is looking for ideas for stamps how about Turkey hill as a subject for a stamp

0

[Jan Erickson]

Hi Martha, Thanks for the extended look into the Starrett-Lehigh Building's test kitchens, etc. The photos are beautiful! I can hardly wait for your new products at Costco. I am still enjoying the delicious soups and I froze a ham to have for Easter. Thanks again for sharing. Jan

[Andrew Ritchie]

Martha, I often wonder how you managed to invent yourself.

What must go through your mind when you walk through those beautiful spaces, see all that productivity, all that inspiration, all that light and devotion to excellence, knowing it all started with you and your dreams?

I think you and your company are such a tribute to the power of dreaming: how a kernel of inspiration can become something with global appeal through hard work, persistence and belief...and a bit of luck, too!

Thank you for sharing these photos with us, and all those 'good things' we love.

-Andrew

[Linda Gail]

Martha:)
Thanks for more behind the scenes looks at how things are run at MSLO.
I can see that is is going to be well worth to renew my Costco membership.
Easter is going to be one wonderful meal with Mushroom soup for the first course and Ham as the main course. I've even got dessert covered once I going through all my "Martha" recipes.
Thanks for all the beautiful pictures and another wonderful blog.
Linda Gail

[Cee Cee]

M/MSO Team ~
The wedding cakes are sheer stunning works of art!!! Absolutely incredible!!
Next time out...could you do a closeup of each box interior of the sugared flowers?!! The box design is also very beautiful!

There's a new wonderful frozen sm. gourmet type pizza on the market, but Safeway often runs out here. Wish you could do a spin off, but NOT to hamper their co.sales.
The pizza ~ 'Ionion'......... www.flatbread.com.
As a single woman it's a perfect eve meal!!!

How about a woman's vino?? www.kestrel.com ~ Pure Platinum!! Blue bottle w/ a woman in a white gown...... How about Martha?! Could also do a M face graphic?!!
Cheers.........GO Martha!!
Oh happy daze.......

[kristen]

Please tell your Costco team that their ham is FABULOUS! It made for a delicious Christmas lunch- and I will definitely buy this again...

[Margie]

I get the greatest enjoyment listening to Lucinda. She is a treat and her dry sense of humor is tops. What an inspiration.
Thanks as always.

[Lori Merrill]

...again,
Marvelous Martha!

Always,
lolo

[Claudine]

New craft items??? I can't wait. Those cakes are amazing and those sugar flowers are works of art!
Claudine

[Hayley]

I now have a reason to renew my Costco membership! I love the fact that you have a vegetarian minestrone and that you take in to account consumers NOT wanting alot, or any, preservatives! Please don't forget to include some dairy-free products for those of us with allergies! Bravo!!

[Sherri K]

Hi, I love this view of the prop room!

I used to do window display and I had several closets filled with things that I used. I wish those closets had the space to be this organized!

Thanks for reminding how much fun window display was!