Costco's Billion-Dollar Rotisserie Chicken Gamble Pays Off.

Costco has spent an estimated $1 billion to build a state-of-the-art chicken slaughterhouse in Nebraska, becoming the only retailer to own one. The move is aimed at ensuring a steady supply of its popular $4.99 roasted-in-house rotisserie chickens, which are a major draw for shoppers at its 600 US warehouse stores. The plant ships 1 million chickens a week and has its own network of chicken farmers. Costco's investment has helped it save money and consumers save money, according to analysts.