- Business
- Costco Wholesale Corporation (Nasdaq: COST; LSE: 0I47) operates an international chain of membership warehouses that offer quality brand-name merchandise in bulk quantities at substantially lower prices than conventional retail sources; core product categories encompass groceries, candy and snacks, appliances, consumer electronics, automotive supplies and tires, toys and games, hardware, sporting goods, jewelry and watches, cameras, books, housewares, apparel, health and beauty aids, furniture, office supplies and equipment; the company also provides Kirkland Signature private-label items such as juice, cookies, coffee, housewares, luggage, clothing and detergent, alongside self-service gasoline stations at select locations in the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, Spain, Mexico, Taiwan and Iceland. Additionally, Costco Wholesale Industries manages manufacturing operations including special food packaging, optical laboratories, meat processing and jewelry distribution to deliver high-quality products at reduced costs to members. Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Issaquah, Washington, the retailer serves small- to medium-sized businesses for resale and personal use by individuals through three membership tiers—Gold Star, Business and Executive—across approximately 900 warehouses in 14 countries including the US, Canada and various markets in Europe and Asia. Recent developments include a partnership with Novo Nordisk announced in October 2025 to offer GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy at fixed monthly costs, enhancing healthcare services; the launch of a buy-now-pay-later program via Affirm for big-ticket items like appliances and electronics; ongoing warehouse expansions with 27 net new buildings planned for fiscal 2025, including entries into Sweden and further growth in Korea and Canada; and robust sales growth, with September 2025 net sales reaching $26.58 billion, up 8% year-over-year.