Costco

Costco Wholesale is an American retailer that sells goods through membership warehouses. It is headquartered in Issaquah, Washington. Jim Sinegal and Jeffrey Brotman opened the first Costco in Seattle in 1983.

Shoppers pay an annual fee to buy groceries, household items, electronics, tires and more, often in large packs. The store brand, Kirkland Signature, covers many product types. Many warehouses also include a pharmacy, optical center and gas station.

Costco has warehouses across North America, Asia, Europe and Australia. It also runs an online store. It merged with Price Club in 1993, and the combined firm took the Costco Wholesale name in 1997. Members typically pay an annual fee, with an executive tier that gives rewards. The warehouses carry fewer product choices than a typical supermarket. Costco keeps its hot dog and soda combo at a fixed price, a policy its leaders have kept for decades.