I'm an American who visited Costco in Canada. It may look identical, but it's not the same.

Joey HaddenApr 30, 2024, 23:32 IST

Business Insider's reporter went to a Costco store in Canada for the first time and noticed a few key differences compared to US locations.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Costco has more than 100 locations in Canada.
I visited a Costco in Niagara Falls to see how it compared to US locations in 2022.

Growing up, my parents loved Costco because they could purchase food for our family of four in bulk for low prices. I remember spending Saturday afternoons exploring the warehouse with my brother while my parents shopped for produce, snacks, and everything in between with their membership.

While Costco started in the US — its first location opened as a Price Club in 1976 in a converted airplane hangar in San Diego — the wholesale outlet is now in eight countries, including Canada, according to the company's website.

As I learned on a trip there in 2022, Canada is home to more than 100 locations, according to Statista. While in the country for the first time, I stopped by a location in Niagara Falls, Ontario, to see how it would measure up to US stores.

It turns out it's pretty similar, but I found a few things to be different.

The store looked mostly the same as the ones I've visited in the US. For starters, it was huge.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I thought the inside looked the same, too. Like in the US, the warehouse had an open layout with stands of products in the middle and floor-to-ceiling aisles stacked with groceries along the perimeter.

Snapshots show the inside of a Costco store in Niagara Falls, Ontario.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I thought the inside looked the same, too. Like in the US, the warehouse had an open layout with stands of products in the middle and floor-to-ceiling aisles stacked with groceries along the perimeter.

The first difference I spotted between the US and Canadian stores was the addition of French labels on products in Canada.

Pitted dates and speakers, sold with French labels at Costco.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

In the clothing section, I noticed a wider variety of jackets than I've seen in US stores. They ranged in price from $50 to $100.

A clothing display inside Costco.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

While many of the products looked familiar to me, each Costco has locally sourced products. So, I scanned the store for Canadian labels to find foods I couldn't get back home.

Frozen fish and chicken sourced in Canada and sold at Costco.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

While many of the products looked familiar to me, each Costco has locally sourced products. So, I scanned the store for Canadian labels to find foods I couldn't get back home.

In the meat section, I noticed that most of the products were also sourced in Canada.

A selection of meat from Canada sold at Costco.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I also saw dessert items locally sourced in Canada. And there was some candy that I rarely see in the US, like Aero — my favorite chocolate.

Frozen yogurt bars sourced in Canada and UK-based candies, sold at Costco.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

In the coffee section, I noticed the store carried coffee from Tim Horton's, where I had breakfast just hours before.

The author's breakfast (L) and Tim Horton's coffee sold at Costco (R).Joey Hadden/Business Insider

On my way out, I noticed the food court was selling poutine, a Canadian dish I haven't seen in US Costco stores.

Poutine from a Costco in Canada.Michelle T./Yelp

Ultimately, I found that the Costco I visited in Canada was similar to its US counterparts. Next time, I'd go back with a member so I can try the products unique to Canada.

Costco in Niagara Falls, Canada.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Ultimately, I found that the Costco I visited in Canada was similar to its US counterparts. Next time, I'd go back with a member so I can try the products unique to Canada.

Take a look inside a historic 54-room Gilded Age mansion that belonged to one of America's richest families

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

I'm an American who visited Costco in Canada. It may look identical, but it's not the same.

The store looked mostly the same as the ones I've visited in the US. For starters, it was huge.

I thought the inside looked the same, too. Like in the US, the warehouse had an open layout with stands of products in the middle and floor-to-ceiling aisles stacked with groceries along the perimeter.

The first difference I spotted between the US and Canadian stores was the addition of French labels on products in Canada.

In the clothing section, I noticed a wider variety of jackets than I've seen in US stores. They ranged in price from $50 to $100.

While many of the products looked familiar to me, each Costco has locally sourced products. So, I scanned the store for Canadian labels to find foods I couldn't get back home.

In the meat section, I noticed that most of the products were also sourced in Canada.

I also saw dessert items locally sourced in Canada. And there was some candy that I rarely see in the US, like Aero — my favorite chocolate.

In the coffee section, I noticed the store carried coffee from Tim Horton's, where I had breakfast just hours before.

On my way out, I noticed the food court was selling poutine, a Canadian dish I haven't seen in US Costco stores.

Ultimately, I found that the Costco I visited in Canada was similar to its US counterparts. Next time, I'd go back with a member so I can try the products unique to Canada.