Costco Wholesale Corp.

As consumers become more aware and discerning, it's prime time for more retailers to embrace the upscale meat movement.

As consumers become more aware and discerning, it's prime time for more retailers to embrace the upscale meat movement.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. - Food, particularly fresh food, continues to contribute strongly to membership wholesale club Costco Wholesale Corp.'s bottom line, helping to boost its fiscal first quarter profit 11 percent to meet Wall Street targets.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. - Food, particularly fresh food, continues to contribute strongly to membership wholesale club Costco Wholesale Corp.'s bottom line, helping to boost its fiscal first quarter profit 11 percent to meet Wall Street targets.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. - Food, particularly fresh food, continues to contribute strongly to membership wholesale club Costco Wholesale Corp.'s bottom line, helping to boost its fiscal first quarter profit 11 percent to meet Wall Street targets.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. - Beginning today, Costco Wholesale Corp. based here will begin selling holiday ham nationwide co-branded with the Martha Stewart and signature Kirkland labels, as the first in a series of exclusive prepared food products the members-only club store operator will launch in 2008.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. - Beginning today, Costco Wholesale Corp. based here will begin selling holiday ham nationwide co-branded with the Martha Stewart and signature Kirkland labels, as the first in a series of exclusive prepared food products the members-only club store operator will launch in 2008.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. -Costco Wholesale Corp. could have replayed last month's earnings conference call yesterday, as an increase in gasoline prices and strong foreign currency once again drove a 9 percent rise in its same-store sales for the warehouse club retailer, and a higher volume of traffic in its clubs for the four weeks ended December 2. The only new contributing factor last month was a boost in traffic.