Costco Wholesale Corp

Costco Wholesale Corporation, commonly referred to as Costco, is an American multinational company that manages a network of membership-only big-box warehouse club retail stores. As of 2021, Costco is the third-largest retailer globally, and by August 2024, it has established itself as the largest retailer of beef, poultry, organic produce, and wine, with nearly one-third of American consumers shopping regularly at its warehouses. Costco holds the #11 position on the Fortune 500 list of the largest corporations in the United States by total revenue. Initially, Costco operated with a wholesale business model focused on signing up businesses as members, later expanding to include individual consumers and selling products aimed at them, including its private label brand.

Costco is headquartered in Issaquah, Washington, an eastern suburb of Seattle, although its Kirkland Signature house label reflects its previous location in Kirkland. The company's first warehouse opened in Seattle in 1983. Through a series of mergers, Costco's corporate lineage can be traced back to 1976 when it was established as a competitor to Price Club, which began in San Diego, California. As of May 2025, Costco operates 905 warehouses worldwide, with 86% situated in North America.