Costco Wholesale Corporation

What does Costco own?
Costco Wholesale Corporation owns and operates 923 membership warehouse locations worldwide and owns the Kirkland Signature private label brand. The company also operates Costco Pharmacy, Costco Optical, Costco Travel, and Costco Auto Program as service businesses within its warehouses. Costco's e-commerce platform extends its product offering beyond what is available in warehouses.

Is Costco publicly traded?
Yes, Costco Wholesale Corporation is listed on NASDAQ under ticker COST. The company has been publicly traded since December 1985. Costco has no single controlling shareholder, with major institutional holders including Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street. Co-founder James Sinegal reduced his stake significantly after retiring as CEO in 2012.

Who founded Costco?
Costco was founded in 1983 by James Sinegal and Jeffrey Brotman in Seattle, Washington. Sinegal had previously worked at Price Club, the pioneer of the membership warehouse club concept. The first Costco warehouse opened in Seattle in September 1983. Costco merged with Price Club in 1993 to form PriceCostco, which was later renamed Costco Wholesale Corporation.

Where is Costco headquartered?
Costco Wholesale Corporation is headquartered in Issaquah, Washington, USA, a suburb of Seattle. The company was originally headquartered in Kirkland, Washington, which is the origin of the Kirkland Signature brand name. Costco operates 923 warehouse locations across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Spain, France, China, and other countries.

How many warehouses does Costco operate?
As of early 2026, Costco operates 923 warehouse locations worldwide. The United States has approximately 614 warehouses, Canada has approximately 108, and the remaining locations are in the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Spain, France, China, and other countries. Costco typically opens 20 to 30 new warehouses per year as part of its ongoing expansion program.

Who owns Costco?
Costco Wholesale Corporation is publicly traded on NASDAQ with a broad institutional and retail shareholder base. No single shareholder holds a controlling stake. Major institutional shareholders include Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street. Ron Vachris serves as President and CEO. Co-founder James Sinegal reduced his stake significantly after retiring as CEO in 2012.

Costco was founded in 1983 by James Sinegal and Jeffrey Brotman in Seattle, Washington. Sinegal had previously worked at Price Club, one of the first membership warehouse clubs, and brought that experience to the founding of Costco. The first Costco warehouse opened in Seattle in September 1983.

Price Club, founded by Sol Price in San Diego in 1976, was the pioneer of the membership warehouse club concept. Price Club merged with Costco in 1993 to form PriceCostco, which was subsequently renamed Costco Companies, Inc. in 1997 and Costco Wholesale Corporation in 1999.

Costco went public in December 1985, listing on NASDAQ under ticker COST. The company grew rapidly through the late 1980s and 1990s, expanding across the United States and into international markets.

Costco entered the Canadian market in 1985, the United Kingdom in 1993, South Korea in 1994, Japan in 1999, and Australia in 2009. International expansion has been a consistent growth driver, with international warehouses now accounting for approximately 27% of total net sales.

The company's membership model has proven remarkably resilient. Costco's US and Canada membership renewal rate has consistently exceeded 90%, reflecting the strong value proposition the company offers to members. As of fiscal year 2025, Costco had approximately 76 million paid household memberships and approximately 137 million cardholders.

For fiscal year 2025 (ended September 1, 2025), Costco reported net sales of approximately $254.0 billion, up approximately 8% from fiscal year 2024. Q1 fiscal year 2026 (ended November 24, 2025) net sales were $65.98 billion, up 8.2% year-over-year.

Costco has implemented sustainability initiatives focused on renewable energy, waste reduction, sustainable sourcing, and ethical business practices. The company has committed to reducing its environmental impact through energy efficiency improvements in warehouses, renewable energy procurement, and waste diversion programs.

Costco has installed solar panels on many of its warehouse locations and has committed to renewable energy procurement for its operations. The company has implemented energy-efficient lighting and refrigeration systems in its warehouses, reducing electricity consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Costco has also invested in electric vehicle charging stations at select locations to support the transition to electric transportation.

In waste management, Costco has implemented comprehensive recycling programs for cardboard, plastics, and other materials. The company works with suppliers to reduce packaging waste and has implemented food donation programs to reduce food waste while supporting local communities. Costco's bulk packaging model inherently reduces per-unit packaging waste compared to traditional retail packaging.

Costco addresses ethical considerations through its employee compensation practices, supply chain responsibility programs, and product quality standards. The company is widely recognized for paying wages significantly above the retail industry average, with starting wages typically $15+ per hour in the United States, and provides comprehensive benefits including healthcare and retirement plans.

The company maintains supplier compliance programs that audit suppliers for labor practices, environmental compliance, and product quality standards. Costco's Kirkland Signature brand products undergo rigorous quality testing and many are sourced through programs that ensure ethical production practices.

Costco has received recognition for workplace practices, customer service, and business excellence:

• Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For (2024 and 2025): Consistent recognition for employee compensation and workplace culture
• Forbes Best Employers (2024 and 2025): Recognition for workplace practices and employee satisfaction
• Customer Service Hall of Fame (2024): Recognition for exceptional customer service and member satisfaction
• Great Place to Work Certification (2024 and 2025): Certification for workplace culture across multiple regions
• Retail Industry Leaders Association Awards (Multiple years): Recognition for retail innovation and excellence
• Green Builder Media Sustainability Awards (2024): Recognition for sustainable warehouse design and construction
• SupplyChain Brain Awards (2023): Recognition for supply chain excellence and innovation
• Ethisphere World's Most Ethical Companies (2024): Recognition for business ethics and compliance

Costco has faced relatively limited controversy compared to other large retailers. The company has been recognized for its employee compensation practices, paying wages significantly above the retail industry average and providing comprehensive benefits. Costco's employee retention rates are among the highest in retail.

The company has faced some criticism regarding its environmental impact, including packaging waste from its bulk merchandise model and the carbon footprint of its large warehouse facilities. Costco has committed to sustainability initiatives including renewable energy procurement and packaging reduction.

Costco has also faced scrutiny regarding its sourcing practices, including questions about labor conditions in its supply chain. The company has implemented supplier compliance programs to address these concerns.

Costco has experienced several product recalls in 2025, primarily affecting food products sold under both national brands and its Kirkland Signature private label. The company has maintained transparent recall procedures and worked closely with regulatory agencies to ensure consumer safety.

In May 2025, Costco recalled six Fresh & Ready ready-to-eat sandwich products due to potential listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recalled items included turkey bacon club sandwich, turkey and cheese multigrain sandwich, garlic pesto salad, ham and cheese multigrain sandwich, turkey and cheese croissant, and egg salad sandwich, sold from April 28 to May 11. This recall was part of a larger outbreak that resulted in 10 hospitalizations and one death according to FDA reports.

In June 2025, Costco recalled Topo Chico Mineral Water 16.9-ounce bottles sold as 18-pack sets in Texas and Louisiana warehouses due to potential Pseudomonas contamination. The Coca-Cola product was sold from May 20 to May 29, though no illnesses were reported from this incident.

July 2025 saw a recall of Ritz Peanut Butter Cracker Sandwiches in 40-piece packs due to labeling errors where individually-wrapped peanut butter products were mistakenly labeled as cheese crackers. Mondelēz Global recalled 70 cases shipped to eight states, with a follow-up recall announced in November 2025 for products with January 2026 best-before dates.

September 2025 brought recalls of Kirkland Signature Ahi Tuna Wasabi Poke due to potential listeria contamination in green onions, along with Oscar Meyer Turkey Bacon and various other ready-to-eat products. November 2025 included additional recalls of Caesar Salad and Chicken Sandwich with Caesar Salad items due to potential plastic foreign material in dressing, plus various salad dressing recalls.

Costco's chicken processing plant in Fremont, California, has faced ongoing scrutiny for consistently failing USDA salmonella tests, receiving the worst Category 3 rating 92% of the time between September 2023 and July 2025, raising concerns about food safety controls.