T. Ozbun
Research expert covering food retail and all food topics for Italy and Brazil
Warehouse clubs in the United States - statistics & facts
Towering shelves and vast aisles beckon shoppers with an irresistible combination of savings and convenience. Through membership and a fee, warehouse clubs offer the opportunity to buy in bulk, unlocking a world of benefits for savvy shoppers. In 2022, the warehouse club and supercenter industry generated more than 626 billion U.S. dollars in revenue and employed over 1.7 million people across the United States. The most prominent players are Costco and Sam’s Club (owned by Walmart), who are also considered to be amongst the leading retailers in the country. BJ’s Wholesale Club is another competitor, though on a smaller scale compared to the former ones.
A comparison between warehouse club players
In terms of net sales, Costco ranked number one generating more than double than its counterpart Sam’s Club, and twelve times more than BJ’s Wholesale Club. Concerning locations in the United States, Sam’s Club operated slightly more warehouses than Costco, while BJ’s had a little over 200 stores across the territory. Unlike BJ’s, Costco and Sam’s Club have an international presence. Costco not only operates in North America, but it also has a presence in some European and Asian countries, as well as Australia. In the case of Sam’s Club, the retailer has stores in Mexico, Brazil, and China.Are warehouse clubs a good option?
Warehouse clubs are more likely to be a great deal if consumers like to buy in bulk and are committed to certain brands. However, membership fees which can range from 50 U.S. dollars to 120 U.S. dollars (depending on the company), could end up being a significant expense if consumers are not able to save at least the amount that they are paying for their membership annually. In this regard, warehouse clubs usually offer two types of memberships: a basic and a premium one. Each contains different benefits and rewards. When comparing Sam’s Club, Costco, and BJ’s premium memberships, Costco’s the most expensive one, costing 120 U.S. dollars per year.
