Based in Issaquah, Washington, Costco Wholesale Corporation sells high volumes of foods and general merchandise (including household products and appliances) at discounted prices through membership warehouses. It is one of the largest warehouse club operators in the United States. The company also operates e-commerce sites in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Australia.

The company’s warehouses offer an array of low-priced nationally branded and select private labeled products in a wide range of merchandise categories. Costco offers three types of memberships to its customers: Business, Gold Star (individual), and Executive.

As of Apr 10, 2024, Costco operates 876 warehouses, including 604 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 108 in Canada, 40 in Mexico, 33 in Japan, 29 in the United Kingdom, 18 in Korea, 15 in Australia, 14 in Taiwan, six in China, four in Spain, two in France, and one each in Iceland, New Zealand and Sweden.

Costco generates revenue from two sources: 1) Store sales (Net sales; 98% of fiscal 2022 total revenue) and 2) Membership fees (MFI; 2% of fiscal 2022 total revenue).

Costco offers a myriad of food products as well as a vast range of household and lifestyle products, stationeries and appliances. The company also sells gasoline to customers at cheap prices. It offers merchandise in the following categories:

Food and Sundries (including dry foods, packaged foods, groceries, snack foods, candy, alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, and
cleaning supplies)

Hardlines (including major appliances, electronics, health and beauty aids, hardware, and garden and patio)

Fresh Foods (including meat, produce, deli, and bakery)

Softlines (including apparel and small appliances)

Ancillary (including gasoline and pharmacy businesses).