7 Changes Set to Reshape Costco Experience in 2026

Costco Wholesale is launching its first standalone gas station this spring in Mission Viejo, California, a 40-pump site two miles from its nearest warehouse that requires membership verification at every pump. This move breaks from the retailer’s 50-year tradition of tying fuel sales to warehouse locations, signaling broader shifts in operations set for 2026.

1. First-Ever Standalone Gas Station

The Mission Viejo location aims for 9,500 daily vehicle visits, pioneering a format untethered from retail. This 40-pump facility requires membership verification at every pump, testing whether fuel-only locations can succeed without adjacent warehouse shopping.

2. Aggressive Warehouse Expansion

Costco plans to open 28 new warehouses worldwide in fiscal 2026, exceeding its typical 20-25 annual pace despite construction delays in Spain that trimmed an initial target of 35. Five sites involve relocations to larger facilities with more parking and gas capacity, focusing on high-growth Sunbelt regions in the U.S. International projects include a 200,000-square-foot flagship in Monterrey, Mexico—its largest in Latin America—plus locations in Guilderland, New York, Canada, and Europe. This growth, about 30-35% international, diversifies beyond North America.

3. Business Centers Expansion

Costco is growing Business Centers tailored for small businesses, offering earlier hours and bulk quantities, with rising interest in Canada. These specialized locations serve restaurant owners, office managers, and entrepreneurs seeking commercial-grade products in larger quantities than standard warehouses offer.

4. Food Court Membership Enforcement

Food courts nationwide will install digital scanners in early 2026 to strictly verify members, ending lax enforcement of the member-only policy in place since 2020. This blocks non-members from the $1.50 hot dog combo, unchanged since 1985. Reactions vary: frequent users expect shorter lines, while others lose easy access, though exclusivity may boost renewal rates slightly among price-sensitive members.

5. Scan & Pay Checkout Technology

Costco is deploying Scan & Pay nationwide via its app, allowing members to scan items while shopping, pay digitally, and exit after verification—catching up to Sam’s Club, which launched it in 2016. Pilots showed 20% faster checkouts. Employees now use handheld pre-scanners in traditional lines, auto-populating registers to cut transaction times and tackle peak-hour delays. These steps address Sam’s Club’s edge in satisfaction metrics and AI exit verification.

6. Pharmacy Cost-Plus Pricing Partnership

Starting January 1, 2026, over 500 Costco Pharmacies partner with Navitus Health Solutions for cost-plus pricing: acquisition cost plus fixed markup and transparent fee, passing all rebates to eligible members via employer or plan contracts. This model aims to reduce prescription costs for members whose health plans participate in the program.

7. Kirkland Signature Expansion and Wage Increases

Kirkland Signature adds new items in 2026, building on 2025 launches like Dry Facial Towels and Crème Brûlée Cake; CFO Gary Millerchip noted 15-20% savings over name brands. Production shifts regionally in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to dodge tariffs, echoing 2025 cuts in Asian-sourced holiday goods. Wages rise $1 hourly through 2027 under a March 2025 deal averting strikes by 18,000 Teamsters workers, hitting $31.90 for top clerks in 2026 and $32.90 in 2027—adding mid-single-digit percentage increases to labor expenses but exceeding retail norms amid inflation debates.

The Bottom Line

These changes come as U.S. renewal rates hold at 92.2% and global at 89.7%, serving 81.4 million paid members, with Kirkland products cited as a primary driver of member loyalty. Yet stock fell 5% in 2025 versus S&P 500’s 16% gain, amid valuation worries, tech lags, and a tariff refund lawsuit seeking hundreds of millions. Analysts forecast fiscal 2026 EPS of approximately $20.01, but success depends on execution across expansion, tech, and margins in a competitive landscape.