HUSBAND and wife David and Susan Schwartz have made it their mission to visit over 200 Costco warehouses across 14 different countries – and they’re now sharing their top tips.
On November 30, 1993, Costco opened its first British warehouse in West Thurrock, Essex.
1
As of May 2023, there are 29 Costco warehouses in the UK, a depot, and a regional office which also oversees and supports operations in France, Spain, and Iceland.
The Sun previously revealed that Costco is planning to open 14 new warehouses across the UK in the next two years.
But Costco warehouses in the UK are unique and The Sun spoke to David and Susan to find out exactly what makes Costco warehouses in the UK special and how they differ from their counterparts in the US.
The couple, who are both in their sixties, have made hundreds of trips abroad.
Read more in money
The trips were so regimented that they chose not to visit any tourist attractions just so they could hit their local Costco.
“We went to Paris and didn’t visit a single museum – just the Costco and our friends really struggled to understand that,” said the pair.
“We always tell people we’re harmless but we’re nuts.”
David, a former investment banker and Susan, a headhunter, reside in a “tiny” 450-square-foot Upper West Side apartment in New York.
Most read in Money
But it’s an apartment that now “resembles a Costco Warehouse” thanks to the momentous they collected on their global mega tour.
Susan and David have now self-published a book on their adventure – The Joy of Costco: A Treasure Hunt from A to Z.
Here’s everything they found out they learnt about Costco in the UK and how you can save some extra cash on your next trip to the store.
The food courts have more choice
David and Susan were shocked upon visiting Costco’s UK warehouses to discover just how much choice we Brits get at the wholesaler’s food courts.
On their travels across the UK’s 29 Costco stores, the pair discovered that the food court menu is “way” more extensive than in the US.
They said: “Perhaps the two most unusual items are an Aberdeen Angus cottage pie – minced beef and onions topped with mashed potatoes and cheesy herb crumbs – and ‘jacket potatoes’ — baked potatoes with a choice of toppings, like tuna salad, shredded cheese, baked beans, or beef chilli.
“A few other different items spotted include Korean beef BBQ bake, fish and chips, chicken tenders, double chicken fillet sandwiches, cheeseburger, and French fries.”
And about 60% of the products are domestically sourced, including some obvious favourites like Marmite.
The same goes for meat and fish with departments proudly displaying Aberdeen Angus beef and bright-yellow-dyed smoked haddock fillets, according to the pair.
But just like in the US, every UK Costco sells hot dogs, soda, and pizza.
And with more choice comes better value.
Shoppers also get access to cheap cupboard food.
Shoppers can get more for their pounds when bulk purchasing items like rice, pasta, canned goods, and non-perishable pantry staples at Costco instead of on the high street.
Condiments can be a great option to buy at Costco.
For example, Hellmann’s mayonnaise costs £5.89 for two squeezy tubes of 750ml each.
At Tesco, the same brand and size sells for £3.50 each – meaning two would cost £7.
You can get ultra-local specialities in some warehouses
David and Susan were shocked to discover how much the food on offer varied across the UK’s different regions.
For example, the Aberdeen warehouse in Scotland sells fresh haggis.
The Bristol, England, warehouse sells four different brands of cider, all made within close distance of the warehouse.
The Birmingham, England, warehouse sells Banks’s Original Beer, which is brewed a mere 12 miles away.
And if you want to buy Henderson’s Relish you will need to visit the South Yorkshire warehouse in Sheffield, England – the only Costco that carries this condiment.
One UK warehouse is unique from all others
Most UK warehouses look similar to those in the US, according to David and Susan.
But there’s one exception and that’s the Stevenage warehouse, about 15miles north of Central London, which opened on July 24, 2019.
This warehouse is located in a repurposed John Lewis distribution center which was built in 1963.
The building’s style is so special that it was Grade 2 listed in 1995.
The couple said: “The building’s interior is stunning, with its original, delicate, elegant columns, and a low-slung ceiling in parts of the building too low to accommodate Costco’s traditional shelving.
“Another minor, but the notable difference between UK and US stores is that product shelving is yellow and black instead of the typical orange and green.”
UK shoppers can cut their grocery bills when shopping by keeping an eye out for special codes on shelves.
Costco adds asterisks to price tags to show items have been reduced to clear. If you spot them, you’re likely getting a good deal.
UK Costcos are great for gin lovers
In the US, KS American Vodka is the best-selling Costco tipple.
But the British traditional affection for gin means that there are more varieties of gin at Costco warehouses in the UK than in a typical American warehouse, according to David and Susan.
For example, during the festive period, the chain usually drops a gin advent calendar with a different small bottle of gin for each day, and a gift box with gin-filled glass Christmas tree ornaments.
But David and Susan said: “One of our favourite 2022 holiday items at Costco is a light-up glitter globe filled with orange and cranberry gin liqueur, made in the UK.”
The Christmas globe gin liqueur is available in stores and online and costs £21.48.
The retailer also stocks popular gins from Bombay Sapphire, Gordons and Tanqueray.
Quirkiest products on offer
When asked what one of the strangest things shoppers can buy in UK Costcos, David and Susan mentioned gold bars.
In 2020, Costco in the UK and Iceland began selling gold ingots sourced from Baird & Co., the largest gold refiner in the UK.
The bars will set shoppers back a whopping £5,369.9 for 100 grams if bought through Costco’s website online right now.
UK Costcos lack what the US gains
Like in the US, shoppers in the UK will find an Optical department and a Hearing Aid Center in all UK warehouses.
However, because of regulatory restrictions, warehouses in Britain do not have pharmacies – which US warehouses are famed for, according to David and Susan.
But UK shoppers can still bag the same types of over-the-counter health and beauty aid products that you find in the US, including Kirkland Signature vitamins and supplements.
For example, shoppers can get 500 Kirkland multivitamin tablets for just £15.49 – working out at 4p per tablet.
Similar multivitamins from Boots cost £11 for 180 – or 2p more per tablet.
How can I shop in Costco?
Costco is a chain retail store that sells items in bulk. It also sells items under its own brand, Kirkland.
But not just anyone can shop at Costco – you need to be a member.
To be eligible for membership, you need to have – or be retired from – a certain type of job.
This includes public sector workers such as NHS staff, police officers, teachers, and local government workers, as well as those working in banking and finance.
A full list of accepted jobs and qualifications can be found on the Costco website.
Costco membership starts from £15 a year for online shopping only, rising to £33.60 a year for individual members who want access to the warehouses.
There are also trade memberships for businesses starting at £26.40 a year.
Each membership includes a free membership card for spouses and partners who live together.
Read More on The Sun
The retailer offers a range of other services for members, from discounted fuel and tyre installation to mortgage services and pet insurance.
Earlier this year, we also reported Costco had launched its first digital membership card, meaning shoppers are now able to go to stores and swipe their phone instead of carrying a physical card.
