<\/p>\n
The warehouse club space has quietly become one of the most competitive corners of retail \u2014 and one of the fastest-growing.<\/p>\n
Data from Placer.ai show just how strong the trend is.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Warehouse clubs posted steady year-over-year foot traffic gains in 2025, with visits rising roughly 6% at Costco, 3.2% at Sam’s Club, and nearly 6% at BJ\u2019s in the third quarter alone.<\/p>\n
At a time when food costs are spiking, consumers are spending more of their money on groceries and are cutting back on dining out, according to a YouGov survey. That puts companies like Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s in a great position to capture some of those dollars.<\/p>\n
But while Costco has historically dominated the warehouse club space and Sam’s Club has long been its toughest competitor, BJ’s Wholesale is starting to gain momentum.<\/p>\n
And now, BJ’s is moving deeper into territory long dominated by its larger rivals.<\/p>\n
BJ\u2019s pushes aggressively into new markets<\/p>\n
BJ\u2019s is making one of its boldest moves yet \u2014 expanding into Texas, a state that has historically been a strong market for both Costco and Sam\u2019s Club.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The company recently opened its first Texas location in Forney, marking its entry into its 22nd state and its 264th warehouse club store overall. Additional locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including Grand Prairie, Fort Worth, and Waxahachie, are already in the pipeline.<\/p>\n
Related: Sam’s Club just gave members a reason to ditch Costco<\/p>\n
And that\u2019s just part of a much larger plan. BJ\u2019s leadership recently said the company expects to open between 25 and 30 new clubs by the end of 2026.<\/p>\n
The strategy is clear. BJ’s is chasing areas where there’s high demand and a booming population. And Texas fits the bill.<\/p>\n
\u201cBJ\u2019s Wholesale Club has been delivering unbeatable value and convenience to members for over 40 years,\u201d said Bob Eddy, CEO of BJ\u2019s Wholesale Club, as reported by Chain Store Age. <\/p>\n
\u201cLaunching our Texas operations is a milestone for our company, and we know our model of saving up to 25% off grocery store prices every day will resonate with families in Forney and across the Dallas-Fort Worth area.\u201d<\/p>\n
BJ’s has expanded into Texas.<\/p>\n
Shutterstock<\/p>\n
Should Costco be worried?<\/p>\n
At first glance, BJ\u2019s expansion might look like a direct threat to Costco. But the reality is more nuanced.<\/p>\n
For one thing, Costco operates at a completely different scale. Costco operates more than 800 warehouse club locations worldwide \u2014 almost four times as many as BJ’s.<\/p>\n
More Retail:<\/p>\n
Costco sees major shift in member behaviorRetail chain shuts all locations as legal changes hit industryCostco makes major investment in online shopping for membersCostco vs. Sam\u2019s Club: Memberships & product prices compared<\/p>\n
Costco’s reputation is also vastly different, thanks to the strength of the store’s Kirkland Signature brand. In fact, it’s the quality of that brand that helps drive renewal rates.<\/p>\n
“Above all else, Kirkland Signature is trusted… consumers have come to rely on the quality, consistency, and value provided by this brand,” retail expert Dave Wendland told RetailWire.<\/p>\n
BJ’s, on the other hand, has two store brands, Wellsley Farms and Berkley Jensen. But neither one has anywhere close to the recognition and reputation of Kirkland Signature.<\/p>\n
The good news is that based on current trends, it seems like there’s plenty of room for both Costco and BJ’s to expand. It’s clear that consumers are focused on value and stretching their paychecks at a time when broad inflation is up 3.3% on an annual basis, according to the most recent Consumer Price Index.<\/p>\n
As such, BJ’s expansion may not be a threat to Costco so much as a happening.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This doesn’t mean Costco won’t have to work hard to maintain its edge. But working hard to retain members is something Costco is used to, and there’s no reason to think the warehouse club giant has any plans to slow down.<\/p>\n
Maurie Backman owns shares of Costco.<\/p>\n
Related: Costco\u2019s Kirkland clothing solves a common problem<\/p>\n
#BJs #takes #Costco #major #expansion<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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