Insight ReportCostco: A Timeline of Key Events – 2018 Coresight Research November 7, 2018 Executive SummaryIn this report, part of our Retailers’ Timelines series, we examine a timeline of key events in Costco’s recent history that have shaped it into the retailer it is today. Costco has focused on expansion in recent years. The company opened its first store in Iceland in May 2017 and its first store in France in June 2017. In October 2015, the company announced plans to open 12 new warehouses worldwide by the end of 2015. In 2014, Costco entered China by opening a store on the Tmall Global platform. In March 2009, Costco announced that it planned to begin operations in Australia and to open its first store in the country in July 2009, in Melbourne. Click here to read our full collection of Retailers’ Timelines. Already a subscriber? Log in You are currently viewing a preview of this report. Please select an access option to view the full report. Hide Options - Show Options + Get unlimited access to all our research with one of our subscription plans. View Subscription Plans or Contact us to purchase this report. Contact us ✕ This document was generated for Other research you may be interested in: 2026 Sector Outlook: US Mass Merchandisers, Warehouse Clubs and Discount Retailers—Warehouse Clubs To Lead Growth amid Sustained Value-Seeking BehaviorWhere Shoppers Live vs. Where They Shop: US Consumer Survey Insights ExtraAnalyst Corner: Five Key Insights from US Black Friday 2025 and What They Mean for the Rest of Holiday 2025, with Anand KumarA Guide to NRF 2026 Retail’s Big Show: The Next Now—Key Insights Shaping the Future of Retail