Costco

Costco Wholesale generated $238 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024, an astonishing figure for a membership-only warehouse retailer with just 875 locations globally. This revenue is 15% less than Amazon's retail segment but shows higher efficiency per store, as Costco averages $272 million per location compared to Amazon's broader network. Founded in 1983 in Seattle, Costco's membership model (32 million households, 92%+ renewal rates) provides guaranteed revenue. Its $4.99 rotisserie chicken and $1.50 hot dog combo are loss leaders that drive member loyalty — the hot dog price has not changed since 1985.