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BGR reported seven changes Costco planned for calendar 2026, spanning warehouse growth, customer access, pharmacy pricing, checkout procedures, Kirkland Signature products and employee pay. That December 2025 report described plans—not proof that every change took effect. Costco’s September 24, 2026 results put its warehouse count at 939 as of August 30, but did not confirm the status of most of the initiatives.
What was planned, and what is confirmed?
The seven items below come from BGR’s December 26, 2025 report. Because Costco’s fiscal year begins in September, its fiscal-year reporting period is not the same as calendar 2026. Costco’s later results provide a warehouse count, not a full implementation update on the reported plans.
| Reported initiative | What BGR said was planned | What the available later update establishes |
|---|---|---|
| Warehouse expansion | 35 new warehouses during calendar 2026, including five replacements for existing locations. | Costco reported 939 warehouses as of August 30, 2026; the release did not verify the forecast or provide a 2026 opening tally. |
| Mission Viejo fuel station | A planned Costco gas station in Mission Viejo, California, with 40 pumps; BGR said membership would be required to buy fuel. | Opening status and current access terms are not established by the cited Costco update. |
| Food-court membership checks | Continued rollout of membership verification scanners to enforce members-only food-court access, including for the $1.50 hot dog. | The rollout’s current scope is not established. |
| Pharmacy arrangement | A partnership with pharmacy benefit manager Navitus for transparent pricing and fixed drug costs for Navitus clients. | The report describes a Navitus-client arrangement, not a pricing change for all Costco pharmacy customers. |
| Line and exit checks | Pre-scanning items while shoppers wait in line and adding scan-and-go systems at exits for receipt verification. | Current rollout coverage and any time savings are not established. |
| Kirkland Signature | Moving production closer to where products are sold, with cost reduction as an aim, and expanding the brand’s offerings. | Lower shelf prices were an aim or possibility, not a confirmed result. |
| Employee pay | Hourly pay increases of $0.50 to $1, depending on pay scale. | Implementation and the increases’ inflation-adjusted impact are not established. |
How the reported plans could affect shoppers
More warehouses and a new fuel location
The reported target of 35 new warehouses included five replacement sites, so it should not be read as 35 net additions. Costco’s August 30 warehouse count gives a later snapshot of the chain’s size, but does not show how many openings occurred in calendar 2026. The Mission Viejo station was a specific planned location, not evidence of a broad change in fuel availability.
Food-court access and verification
If membership scanners are used at a food court, they make membership verification part of access to that location. BGR included the $1.50 hot dog as an example of the food-court offering affected by members-only enforcement. Its report does not establish which warehouses use scanners now, so members should not assume a uniform rollout.
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- To access your card information safely, type the complete website address shown on your Gift Card (MyGift.GiftCardMall.com) directly into your browser's address bar. Don't use search engines or shortened versions of the website address, as these may lead you to fake or fraudulent sites. Do not provide any Gift Card details (example: Card Number) to someone you do not know or trust. If you believe you've reached an illegitimate website, contact cardholder service at 1-888-524-1283. Be cautious of phishing sites, there are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards.
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Faster line and exit checks
Pre-scanning merchandise in a line and scanning items at exits are separate verification steps described in the report. They were intended to change how purchases are checked, but no measured reduction in wait time was provided. The plan alone does not establish that either procedure is available at a particular warehouse.
What the pharmacy and Kirkland plans could mean for costs
Navitus pricing is limited in scope
The reported Costco–Navitus arrangement concerned Navitus clients and was described as offering transparent pricing and fixed drug costs. It does not establish new pricing terms for every Costco pharmacy customer or every prescription. A customer’s applicable terms depend on whether the arrangement covers them.
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Localizing Kirkland production does not guarantee lower prices
BGR described moving production nearer to the markets where products are sold as a way to reduce costs, alongside plans to broaden the Kirkland Signature range. Cost reduction is a business aim; the report does not show that any particular product became cheaper, or that savings would be passed on to shoppers.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the reported pay increase means for employees
BGR reported planned hourly increases of $0.50 to $1, with the amount depending on pay scale. That is a nominal hourly range, not a confirmed companywide increase or a measure of real purchasing-power gains. The available later Costco update does not verify whether the planned increases were implemented.
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- This card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Funds do not expire. If available funds remain on your card after the valid thru date has passed, please call customer service for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout. No fees after purchase.
- To access your card information safely, type the complete website address shown on your Gift Card (MyGift.GiftCardMall.com) directly into your browser's address bar. Don't use search engines or shortened versions of the website address, as these may lead you to fake or fraudulent sites. Do not provide any Gift Card details (example: Card Number) to someone you do not know or trust. If you believe you've reached an illegitimate website, contact cardholder service at 1-888-524-1283. Be cautious of phishing sites, there are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards.
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- Gift Cards are shipped active and ready for use.
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- To access your card information safely, type the complete website address shown on your Gift Card (MyGift.GiftCardMall.com) directly into your browser's address bar. Don't use search engines or shortened versions of the website address, as these may lead you to fake or fraudulent sites. Do not provide any Gift Card details (example: Card Number) to someone you do not know or trust. If you believe you've reached an illegitimate website, contact cardholder service at 1-888-524-1283. Be cautious of phishing sites, there are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards.
- To report your Lost or Stolen Physical Visa Card, call Customer Service 24/7 at 1 (888) 524-1283 to cancel your Gift Card as soon as you can. You will be asked to provide the Gift Card number and other identifying information.
- Use your Visa Gift Card in the U.S. everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, including online.
Sources and timing
- BGR’s December 26, 2025 report described the seven items as plans for calendar 2026.
- Costco’s September 24, 2026 results reported 939 warehouses as of August 30, 2026, but did not confirm the status of most initiatives covered here.
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