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The news: Costco has opted against dispensing the FDA-approved abortion pill mifepristone at its 500+ pharmacy locations, per Bloomberg. Our take: Costco's position could offend many of its customers and reverse the goodwill it has earned by holding firm on its DEI policies amid right-wing criticism. Costco might risk further brand damage if it stands by the reason of weak consumer demand when there鈥檚 evidence showing an uptick in medication abortions.

A leaked Adweek-reviewed file details how The Trade Desk partners with 49 retailers worldwide to sell ad placements built on shopper data. The document reveals steep markups and inconsistent rules: Albertsons charges up to 45% of media costs, Best Buy limits custom audiences, Costco sets $100K minimums, and Walmart imposes fees capped at $3.50 CPMs plus measurement charges. Other retailers add restrictions around ad categories or approvals. The leak highlights both the value and complexity of retail media as brands chase audience targeting tied directly to transactions. Transparency remains a challenge, with costs and conditions varying widely by partner.

The news: Lululemon is suing Costco for selling dupes. In a lawsuit filed June 25, the athleisure brand accuses the wholesale giant of infringing on its design patents by selling knockoff sweatshirts, jackets, and other activewear. Lululemon seeks an immediate halt to sales of the disputed products and unspecified monetary damages. Our take: For nearly as long as there have been name brands, there have been knockoffs. But the rise of dupe culture on TikTok鈥攃ombined with increasingly cost-conscious consumers looking鈥攊s pushing more shoppers toward cheaper alternatives and more brands to the brink. It's become a growing headache for companies like Est茅e Lauder, which have struggled as buyers opt for low-priced lookalikes. Lululemon鈥檚 lawsuit marks a significant escalation in the brand鈥檚 efforts to protect its designs. If it succeeds, it could set a precedent鈥攁nd signal that the era of unchecked dupes may be nearing a turning point.

The news: Costco plans to open a standalone gas station next spring in Mission Viejo, a city in Orange County, California. The 40-pump station, which will be the membership club鈥檚 largest to date, will be about two miles from two existing Costco warehouses鈥攐ne of which already has a gas station. Our take: Costco is investing in ways to reinforce the value of membership, and fuel is central to that equation. If this off-site station succeeds, it could set the stage for a broader rollout of standalone locations鈥攅specially in high-traffic markets. The move could also prompt rivals like Sam鈥檚 Club to follow suit as competition in the warehouse club space heats up.

Costco tries to shift tariff burden onto China suppliers: But that strategy comes with increasing risks as Beijing takes a more active role.

Consumers鈥� value focus is an expansion opportunity for Costco, BJ鈥檚: The two plan to open dozens of stores to capitalize on demand for warehouse retailers.

On today鈥檚 podcast episode, we discuss what makes Sam鈥檚 Club stand out against Costco and BJ鈥檚, why its retail media offering is unique, and where it might be falling short. Listen to the conversation with our Senior Analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts Principal Analyst Sarah Marzano and Senior Analyst Zak Stambor.

Retail workers don鈥檛 have the same leverage they did a few years ago: But recent moves by Costco and Starbucks suggest that unions can exert some pull.

Sam鈥檚 Club's efforts to streamline its shopping experience pay off: It soared past Costco to place first in this year's customer satisfaction rankings for general merchandise retailers.

Costco defends DEI policies amid right-wing backlash: The retailer noted the importance of diversity to its business while questioning activist investors鈥� motivations.

Some 81.6% of consumers say Costco should continue making the dupes, according to a recent Retail Brew poll. If dupes continue to threaten name brands, legal actions like these may become more commonplace.

The FTC鈥檚 case against Southern Glazer鈥檚 could have profound implications for large retailers like Walmart and Costco: A successful suit could limit their ability to negotiate lower prices with suppliers, narrowing their advantage over smaller retailers.

More retailers are turning to Instacart to power their ecommerce storefronts, with Costco Business Centres and Kohl鈥檚 Food Stores signing up for the company鈥檚 white-label services in the first half of 2025 alone. That鈥檚 up from 30 in all of 2024, and slightly more than a dozen in 2023.

Costco benefits from consistency in values. While Target struggles, Costco has seen increased foot traffic by maintaining its DEI position and rebuffing pressure to follow other retailers in rolling back commitments.

Lululemon sued Costco for allegedly selling knockoff versions of the athleisure brand鈥檚 signature leggings and other apparel. Mondelez is suing Aldi over private-label packaging that 鈥渂latantly copies鈥� that of Chips Ahoy, Oreo, and other iconic brands. Columbia Sportswear sued Columbia University over alleged trademark infringement and breach of contract.

Retailers with robust private label selections鈥攍ike Trader Joe鈥檚, Costco, and Walmart鈥攁re winning over those shoppers with an array of products that are high quality and trendy, not to mention cheaper than their name-brand competition.

Other prominent destinations for SNAP shoppers include Kroger (8%), Costco (6%), Amazon (5%), and Sam鈥檚 Club (4%). In the 52 weeks ending March 30, 2025, SNAP shoppers shifted their CPG and general merchandise share toward Costco (up 2.0%), Walmart (up 1.2%), Amazon (up 0.8%), Sam鈥檚 Club (up 0.5%), and Target (up 0.3%). But for brands heavily reliant on SNAP dollars, the exposure is real.

By contrast, companies like Levi Strauss and Costco that have stuck to their DEI commitments are thriving鈥攁 sign that consumers are rewarding brands that reflect their values.

Younger people prefer club store pharmacies like Costco and Sam鈥檚 Club, with 23% of consumers ages 18-34 and 22% of people ages 35-49 picking up prescriptions there. Only 8% of consumers ages 50-64 and 6% of those ages 65+ use those big box stores.

Editor鈥檚 note: This story has been updated to clarify the relationship between Costco and Inmar.