7 Ways Costco Is Changing the Shopping Experience in 2026

Costco’s iconic $1.50 hot dog and soda combo, a staple for budget-conscious diners, now requires a membership card scan at food courts nationwide. This change, rolling out in 2026 across 617 U.S. warehouses, ends decades of open access and signals the retailer’s boldest push yet to enforce member exclusivity.

Membership Enforcement Tightens

Digital scanners, once limited to warehouse entrances, now stand at food court counters, verifying cards before orders. Shoppers first noticed dormant devices in late 2025 via online forums, but uniform enforcement begins this year. Non-members, who previously bypassed full memberships for quick meals, face exclusion. This shift affects millions, transforming a public retail ritual into a perk for 74.5 million cardholders.

New Store Formats and Rapid Expansion

Costco experiments beyond traditional warehouses with a standalone gas station opening in Mission Viejo, California, this spring. Business Centers, tailored for bulk commercial buys with early hours, expand into Canada. Fiscal 2026 brings 35 new warehouses—30 net additions after relocations—following 27 global openings in 2025. These moves bolster physical presence against rivals like Amazon and Aldi.

Checkout and Digital Upgrades

All U.S. locations install scan-and-go technology in 2026, letting members use the app to tally items and pay digitally. Staff confirm receipts at exits. Select stores add pre-scanning in lines, where employees tally carts ahead, slashing peak-hour waits. E-commerce sales rose 20.5% in early fiscal 2026, fueled by app enhancements. CEO Ron Vachris highlighted the focus: “Our digital vision at Costco is to deliver a seamless experience that builds trust and loyalty with our members.”

Pharmacy and Product Pricing Innovations

From January 1, 2026, Costco pharmacies partner with Navitus Health Solutions on a cost-plus model: acquisition costs plus fixed markups and fees for transparent pricing. Non-members qualify if within an hour’s drive, with same-day Instacart delivery for those nearby. Kirkland Signature private-label expands with over 30 new items in late 2025, offering 15-20% savings over name brands. CFO Gary Millerchip noted their equal quality. Localization shifts production nearer stores, cutting transport emissions and costs, akin to tactics in Mexico and Canada.

Wage Increases and Labor Stability

Top clerks reach $31.90 hourly in 2026, up from 2025, with entry-level at $20-$21 after 50-cent raises. A three-year deal adds more in 2027, hitting $32.90—nearly double Walmart’s $18 average and above Kroger’s $25. First-year workers gain paid vacation; 30-year veterans get six weeks. Turnover stays below 6%, versus industry 60%. A Teamsters pact for 18,000 workers in six states averted strikes, boosting pensions 22%. Vachris affirmed: “We believe our hourly wages and benefits will continue to far outpace others in the retail industry.”

Membership fees rose to $65 from $60—the first hike in seven years—lifting revenue 7.4%. Amid tariffs, Costco sues for refunds, reroutes supply chains, and leans on Kirkland to curb inflation. Vachris, a 40-year veteran promoted from forklift operator, steers this evolution.

These updates position Costco for endurance in a competitive field, blending exclusivity, tech, fair pay, and value. As digital sales and expansions accelerate, members face a remade shopping landscape, with further refinements likely amid economic flux.