The Girl Scouts are bidding farewell to two beloved cookie varieties this season.
The Girl Scouts of America (GSA) has decided to bid farewell to two beloved cookie varieties – the "S'mores" and "Toast-Yay!" – as they exit the scene after this year. Joining them in retirement is the "Raspberry Rally" flavor, which faced a surge in popularity two years ago, leading to inflated resale prices on platforms like eBay, with some boxes fetching as high as $30 each.
The S'mores and Toast-Yay cookies, introduced in 2017 and 2021 respectively, are now making way for potential new additions to the GSA's lineup. The organization has a history of refreshing its offerings, although their motivations for retirement are yet to be disclosed.
As for the price hike, a box of Girl Scout cookies may now cost you $7, a dollar more than the previous two years. The increase in production and material costs is the primary reason behind the price hike, as was mentioned back in 2015 when the price went up from $4 to $5 per box.
The pricing varies by council, and in some instances, may require an increase due to various factors. Nevertheless, the prices remain stable in many areas, and specialty items like gluten-free cookie options may be priced higher due to the cost of production.
The classic Girl Scout cookies, which include favorites like Thin Mints, Samoas, and Tagalongs, will be available at booths beginning this week and online on February 21 through April. These sales are crucial for the GSA, an 112-year-old organization that's currently wrestling with financial challenges.
As part of its efforts to stay afloat, the GSA has proposed a 160% increase in membership fees over the next two years. The National Council approved a hike to $45 for the 2026 membership year, and another hike to $65 in 2027. While this is a significant increase, it's lesser than the initial proposal of $85 per scout.
Membership dues serve as the GSA's largest source of revenue, bringing in $38 million in 2023 from its nearly 2 million total members. However, the organization continues to see losses, projecting an operating deficit of $5.6 million in 2024.
Sources:[1] Girl Scouts of the USA (202X), Press release: Girl Scout Cookie retirements.[2] CNN (202X), Girl Scouts discontinuing S'mores and Toast-Yay cookies.[4] Forbes (202X), Girl Scouts to retire iconic cookies, boost membership fees.
The Girl Scouts of America (GSA) is exploring new additions to replace the retiring cookie varieties, such as S'mores and Toast-Yay, which have been popular sellers in their food business. The organization's financial challenges have led to the proposal of a significant membership fee increase, aiming to bolster their primary revenue source from dues.
