Shoppers turn to warehouse stores as grocery bills climb

Consumers in Seoul and elsewhere are turning to warehouse stores such as Costco and Emart Traders as grocery prices rise. Kim Eun-young, a mother of two in Gwangjin District, said buying food and household essentials in bulk is cheaper for her family, and she portions food for storage. Estimated card spending at the two chains reached a record 1.45 trillion won in September. Their bulk purchasing, limited product selection, lower operating costs and private labels help them offer lower prices.

WiseApp Retail’s estimate is based on a sample of Korean consumers’ credit and debit card payments and excludes cash and bank transfers, so it differs from the retailers’ reported revenue.

Costco Korea’s revenue rose 12.1 percent to a record 7.32 trillion won in fiscal 2025, covering September 2024 through August 2025.

Traders’ annual gross sales increased from 3.37 trillion won in 2023 to 3.85 trillion won in 2025, while operating profit rose from 58.1 billion won to 129.3 billion won.

Costco’s Kirkland Signature range includes groceries, dietary supplements, apparel and household supplies, while Traders’ T Standard brand works with manufacturers from product planning through launch.

Published Oct 21, 2026 2:52 pm KST

Products are displayed in boxes at an Emart Traders warehouse store in this undated photo. Courtesy of Emart

For Kim Eun-young, a 42-year-old mother of two living in Seoul’s Gwangjin District, a monthly trip to Costco has become routine this year. She used to pick up what she needed at a nearby supermarket, but rising prices prompted her to change her shopping habits.

She said buying groceries and household essentials in bulk seems more economical, at least for her family of four.

“The bill is bigger each time, but buying in bulk works out cheaper for the same amount,” Kim said. “I mainly buy food we eat regularly and everyday household essentials, and divide the food into meal-sized portions for storage.”

Kim’s changing habits reflect a growing appetite for warehouse shopping as consumers seek relief from high prices.

According to market tracker WiseApp Retail, combined estimated card spending at Costco and Emart Traders totaled a record 1.45 trillion won ($1.09 billion) in September.

The estimates are based on a sample of Korean consumers’ credit and debit card payments. They exclude cash and bank transfers and therefore differ from the retailers’ reported revenue.

Warehouse retailers keep prices competitive by buying a limited selection of products in large quantities. Concentrating orders on popular goods, rather than carrying numerous brands and sizes, helps them secure lower purchasing prices. Selling large packages and displaying merchandise in boxes or on pallets further reduce operating costs.

Private labels also help keep prices down. By developing goods with manufacturers and selling them under their own brands, retailers can reduce distribution and marketing expenses and pass on savings to shoppers.

Costco’s Kirkland Signature range spans groceries, dietary supplements, apparel and household supplies. The retailer participates in product development and oversees aspects of manufacturing to control costs while maintaining quality.

At Traders, the T Standard brand works with manufacturers throughout product development, from initial planning to launch. Savings on design and promotional spending help the chain offer lower retail prices.

The growing appeal of warehouse shopping is also reflected in financial results.

Costco Korea’s revenue rose 12.1 percent to a record 7.32 trillion won in fiscal 2025, which ran from September 2024 through August 2025. That followed sales of 6.07 trillion won in fiscal 2023 and 6.53 trillion won in fiscal 2024.

Traders has likewise recorded gains in both sales and profit. Its annual gross sales rose from 3.37 trillion won in 2023 to 3.55 trillion won in 2024 and 3.85 trillion won in 2025.

Sales grew 14.2 percent over the two years, while operating profit more than doubled from 58.1 billion won to 129.3 billion won.

“Spending at warehouse retailers is growing among major retail formats, including hypermarkets, department stores and convenience stores,” an industry official said. “Their focus on bulk products appears to be attracting grocery shoppers trying to manage the burden of high prices.”

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随着食品价格上涨，首尔及其他地区的消费者纷纷转向Costco和易买得等仓储式超市。广津区一位有两个孩子的母亲金恩英表示，批量购买食品和日用品对她家来说更划算，而且她还会将食物分装储存。据估计，这两家连锁超市9月份的刷卡消费额达到了创纪录的1.45万亿韩元。它们的批量采购、有限的商品种类、较低的运营成本以及自有品牌等优势，都帮助它们提供了更低的价格。

WiseApp Retail 的估算基于韩国消费者信用卡和借记卡支付的样本，不包括现金和银行转账，因此与零售商报告的收入有所不同。

Costco Korea 2025 财年（涵盖 2024 年 9 月至 2025 年 8 月）的收入增长了 12.1%，达到创纪录的 7.32 万亿韩元。

交易商的年度总销售额从 2023 年的 3.37 万亿韩元增加到 2025 年的 3.85 万亿韩元，而营业利润从 581 亿韩元增加到 1293 亿韩元。

Costco 的 Kirkland Signature 系列产品包括食品杂货、膳食补充剂、服装和家居用品，而 Traders 的 T Standard 品牌则与制造商合作，从产品规划到上市。

发布于2026年10月21日下午2:52（韩国标准时间）

这张未注明日期的照片显示，商品陈列在易买得（Emart）仓储式超市的箱子里。图片由易买得提供。

对于居住在首尔广津区的42岁两个孩子的母亲金恩英来说，今年每月去一次Costco购物已经成了家常便饭。她以前会在附近的超市购买所需物品，但物价上涨促使她改变了购物习惯。

她说，批量购买食品杂货和家居必需品似乎更经济实惠，至少对她四口之家来说是这样。

“每次账单金额都不一样，但批量购买同样数量的东西反而更划算，”金说。“我主要买我们经常吃的食物和日常家居必需品，然后把食物分成每餐的份量储存起来。”

金的消费习惯改变反映出消费者对仓储式购物的需求日益增长，他们希望借此缓解高物价带来的压力。

据市场追踪机构 WiseApp Retail 的数据显示，9 月份 Costco 和 Emart Traders 的信用卡消费总额估计达到了创纪录的 1.45 万亿韩元（10.9 亿美元）。

这些估算基于韩国消费者信用卡和借记卡支付的样本数据。它们不包括现金和银行转账，因此与零售商公布的收入有所不同。

仓储式零售商通过大量采购有限种类的商品来保持价格竞争力。他们集中订购畅销商品，而不是销售众多品牌和尺码，这有助于他们获得更低的进货价格。销售大包装商品以及用箱子或托盘展示商品还能进一步降低运营成本。

自有品牌也有助于降低价格。零售商通过与制造商合作开发产品并以自有品牌销售，可以减少分销和营销费用，并将节省下来的成本回馈给消费者。

Costco旗下的Kirkland Signature系列产品涵盖食品杂货、膳食补充剂、服装和家居用品。这家零售商参与产品研发并监督生产的各个环节，以在控制成本的同时保证产品质量。

在Traders，T Standard品牌与制造商在产品开发的整个过程中紧密合作，从最初的规划到最终的上市。节省下来的设计和促销费用帮助该连锁店提供更低的零售价格。

仓储式购物日益增长的吸引力也体现在财务业绩中。

Costco Korea在2025财年（从2024年9月到2025年8月）的收入增长了12.1%，达到创纪录的7.32万亿韩元。此前，其在2023财年的销售额为6.07万亿韩元，在2024财年的销售额为6.53万亿韩元。

Traders的销售额和利润也同样实现了增长。其年度总销售额从2023年的3.37万亿韩元增至2024年的3.55万亿韩元，并在2025年达到3.85万亿韩元。

两年内销售额增长了 14.2%，营业利润翻了一番多，从 581 亿韩元增至 1293 亿韩元。

一位业内人士表示：“在包括大型超市、百货商店和便利店在内的主要零售业态中，消费者在仓储式零售商处的消费额正在增长。他们专注于大宗商品，似乎吸引了那些试图应对高物价负担的食品杂货消费者。”

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